You likely have many questions if you were injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence. You might not know what to do or what your legal rights and options are.
Fortunately, many Las Vegas personal injury lawyers offer free consultations.
This allows you to have your questions answered, determine whether you need a lawyer, and if the individual lawyer you are talking with is someone you want to hire.
You can even have a free consultation with more than one lawyer as a way to get to know them. To prepare for your free consultation, make a list of questions to ask. Here is a brief list of six questions to ask a personal injury lawyer during a free consultation. But feel free to add some of your own questions to the list.
1. What Experience Do You Have With My Type of Case?
One of the most important questions you can ask is the lawyer’s level of experience. There is simply no substitute for this experience. A lawyer should be able to tell you about how many cases they have handled, including how many have gone to court and how they were resolved.
Additionally, you will want to make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours. After all, handling a car accident case is much different than handling a product liability case.
You will want to ensure the lawyer is familiar with your type of case, including having expert witnesses to call upon, if necessary. Each type of case is unique and can involve different processes, laws, and necessary skills and resources to bring about a positive resolution.
2. How Much Do You Charge and What Is Your Fee Structure?
One of the most important questions you can ask any lawyer you are considering hiring is how much they charge for their services. Nevada’s Rules of Professional Conduct state that lawyers should not charge an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses. A number of factors can also be considered when determining a rate.
Most personal injury lawyers charge rates based on a contingency-fee arrangement. This means that they do not require an upfront fee to begin work on the case. There is no guarantee that they will receive the fee because payment for their services is conditioned on their ability to secure an award or settlement for you.
If the lawyer does obtain compensation for you, they receive a percentage of your award or settlement This is outlined in your agreement.
In addition to attorney fees, you may also be responsible for various legal costs, including:
- Copy costs
- Mailing costs
- Phone charges
- Investigator fees
- Deposition fees
- Expert witness fees
- Court filing costs
- Travel costs
- Medical record retrieval fees
The Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct state that any contingency fee agreement should be in writing and state specifically whether such expenses will be deducted from any recovery. The agreement must state whether the fees will be deducted before or after the contingent fee is deducted and whether the client is responsible for these costs.
3. What Is My Case Worth?
This question is a little tricky because a lawyer probably won’t be able to give you a realistic monetary amount you can expect from your case. Each case is unique. However, your lawyer can inform you of the types of damages you may be able to recover.
Available damages might include:
- Medical bills, including payment for future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Inconvenience
- Other general losses
Determining the potential value of your claim involves adding up all of your losses, including economic and non-economic losses.
4. How Long Will My Case Take?
Many people drastically underestimate how long a case will take. It makes sense you would be anxious about getting compensation as quickly as possible. You’re likely considering paying off bills you might be behind on because of your missed time from work while recovering. However, if you rush to accept a settlement, you might leave money on the table you could have used.
Your lawyer can give you a better idea of the potential timeline in your case.
Many factors can affect how long your case may take to settle, such as:
- The identity and number of defendants
- The duration of your medical treatment
- How long it takes you to reach maximum medical improvement
- How complex the case is
- Whether liability is in dispute
- The type of personal injury case, such as a car accident vs. a product liability case
You should look for a lawyer who will be honest with you and set realistic expectations. Lawyers cannot generally tell you how long a case is going to take. They can tell you what the normal process is and how long similar cases have taken, but they should not say that you will be able to settle your case in a month for a lot of money, if that’s not likely.
While most cases are able to be resolved through a settlement with the insurance company, it may be necessary in some cases to proceed with litigation. If you have to file a lawsuit, your case will likely take longer than one resolved through an insurance settlement. It is important that your lawyer has trial experience and is willing to take your case to court if necessary.
Otherwise, the insurance company may try to make a lowball offer because they’re not afraid of the alternative.
5. How Do I Communicate About My Case?
A good lawyer will keep you updated about the status of your case. Lawyers are people, and people have different preferred methods of communication. You can ask your lawyer what is the best way to get a hold of them, such as by phone call, text, or email. You can also ask about how often you should expect to hear from your lawyer.
6. Why Should I Hire You?
At the end of the day, the lawyer you choose to represent you is an important decision. You will work closely with this person. You want to be able to trust the lawyer and know they are protecting your best interests.
You can get to know a lawyer better and get a better sense of what it would be like working with them when you call for a free consultation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident, don’t delay getting the help you need. De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers is here for you after your Las Vegas, Nevada personal injury accident. Contact our experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer at (702) 222-9999 for a free consultation.