One of the important parts about bringing a personal injury claim is choosing the right lawyer to handle your case. The best way to ensure that you get the right representation for your specific case is to ask questions of your attorney and legal team to make sure that they have the right mix of experience, compassion for you and your family, and commitment to seeing that justice is served.
Here are some questions you should ask before you hire a personal injury attorney:
How much experience does your firm have with cases like mine?
When you’re hurt in an accident, you want a legal team that has experience handling your specific type of case. Not all attorneys have extensive experience with serious injury cases, even though they might advertise that they do. Make sure to ask about specific cases your attorney has handled and how long they’ve been practicing injury law.
For instance, our firm has more than 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas of Tidewater Virginia. We have a large team of 11 lawyers who have extensive experience with cases such as car accidents, 18-wheeler crashes, professional negligence, slip-and-fall, product liability, nursing home abuse and injuries, birth injuries, surgical injuries, anesthesia injuries, medical malpractice, and more.
How often do you win cases like mine?
When you interview lawyers, make sure to ask them about their success with cases like yours. Be specific about your case type and ask about success both in settlements and in the courtroom.
At Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., our legal team has a strong track record of successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. While many injury claims settle out of court, be sure to hire a legal team that is not afraid to take the case all the way to trial if necessary.
How much trial experience do you have?
Not all attorneys are prepared to take their cases to trial, whether it is because of lack of experience, apathy, or confidence. If your legal team is not willing to go to court to get you the fair compensation you deserve, the defendant and their insurance company may choose to make you a lowball settlement offer to make the case go away.
You want a legal team that is not afraid to fight for you in both settlement negotiations and the courtroom if necessary. At Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., we call ourselves trial lawyers for a reason, and we’re ready to stand up for you when you need us the most.
Who will handle my case, and how many cases do they currently have?
A law firm may feature a particularly successful lawyer to get your case, and then hand you off to someone you haven’t met. Make sure you know precisely who is going to handle your case. You also want to know what their average caseload is, and how confident they are that they can handle the demands of your specific case.
Our lawyers are here to discuss the details of your case and why we’re the right legal team for you. We are always available to respond to you and we make sure our attorneys have enough time to give your case the personal attention it deserves.
What do previous clients say about their experience with the firm?
This is perhaps the most important question of all when trying to hire a personal injury lawyer. Recommendations are a very powerful tool when choosing a lawyer. If your personal injury lawyer is worth trusting, they’ll have a long list of former clients who are happy to speak about them.
In this area, Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. stand out from the rest. We have many client recommendations on our site from people just like you who have trusted us to protect them and their families.
Contact a Lawyer You Can Trust
If you’re looking for a lawyer who can reply to these questions with answers that inspire confidence, look no further than Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. Our experience and record of success speak for themselves, and our many past clients are a testament to our skill, compassion, and dedication.
To learn more about what we can do for you, and to ask us these questions yourself, call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. A lawyer can give you the planning and advice you need throughout this trial.