What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer Before I Hire Them?

When considering hiring a Denver personal injury lawyer after a serious injury or accident, it’s important to gather as much information as possible to ensure you’re making the right choice for your case. Boesen Law has decades of experience and we’ve been asked many types of questions by clients. We understand your situation and want to provide some insights into good questions to ask a personal injury law firm before you hire them.

Essential questions you might ask your attorney

What areas of law do you specialize in?

Ensure that the lawyer specializes in personal injury law. Just because the list it on their website or other marketing channels, it doesn’t mean they solely focus or specialize in this type of law. For example, the law firm might focus on criminal defense, which a different practice area altogether, and might not have all the resources and capabilities to fight a personal injury case on your behalf. At Boesen Law, we are a personal injury law firm based in Colorado and help injured victims throughout the state.

How long have you been practicing personal injury law?

Experience can be a significant factor in handling complex cases. Newer attorneys might not have the experience yet to see a case all the way to the end and get the best outcome.

Have you handled cases similar to mine, and what were the outcomes?

Asking about specific experiences with similar cases can give you insight into their expertise and success rate. If you were injured in a truck accident for example, ask if they have experience with helping clients who suffered truck accident related injuries.

What is your approach or philosophy when handling personal injury cases?

This will help you understand how they will manage your case and if it aligns with your expectations. Bodily injury cases can take up to a year sometimes to settle or get a verdict if it goes to court. Patients is key sometimes and you want to make sure your attorney will work with you all the way to the end. For example, an experienced car accident lawyer knows that you should wait four to six months after a car wreck to ensure you have no lingering physical injuries that were caused by the accident. You might not know you have underlying soft tissue injuries after a week or two of the incident. So you need to get examined by medical professionals to find any potential injuries that might arise a year or two later. Insurance companies want to settle with you as quickly as possible and provide the lowest settlement because they are protecting their interests. Settling too early could lead to minimum compensation and then you could be left with serious injuries down the road where you would need more compensation to pay for the medial expenses, lost wages from not being able to work, etc.

Do you have testimonials of actual personal injury clients?

Make sure their website or YouTube Channel has plenty of real world testimonials of former clients. This is a good indicator of past success and overall client satisfaction. Video testimonials are even better and below is an example of one of our former clients we helped at Boesen Law.

What are your fees and how are they structured?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, but clarifying this and any potential additional costs is crucial. This could mean you only pay the law firm if they win your case so you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket until then. Whatever settlement you receive, then a small fee is deducted from that to pay for the law firm’s time and expenses to fight the case.

How do you communicate with clients?

Knowing how often and through what means (email, phone, in-person) you’ll receive updates is important.

What is your caseload currently like?

A law firm with too many cases may not have the time to dedicate to your case and limit the amount they can communicate with you. At Boesen Law, we never take on too many cases. We feel we’re a small law firm who handles big cases so we can provide the attention you need.

Do I have a case and what is the likely outcome of my case?

While no lawyer can guarantee a result, they should be able to provide a realistic outlook based on their experiences from the injuries you provide during your initial consultation.

To determine if you have a potential personal injury claim, a personal injury attorney will consider whether someone else’s actions or inaction caused your injuries or property damage. If so, you shouldn’t have to cover the medical bills and other expenses yourself. An attorney can help assign liability to the responsible party, ensuring they compensate you for your accident-related costs. Whether it’s a car accident or a case of medical malpractice, discussing the incident with a personal injury lawyer is crucial to assess if you have a valid claim for financial compensation.

How long do you expect the case to take?

Getting an estimate can help set expectations for the process ahead.

Asking these questions should give you a good sense of whether the lawyer is a good fit for your needs and how effectively they may be able to handle your case. Should you have any questions, please reach out to us.