13 Questions to Ask Phoenix Accident Lawyers Before Hiring One

Did you know over 1.3 million lawyers are working in the United States? And 7% of this group are personal injury lawyers. Unfortunately, there are over 5 million car-related accidents each year, so personal injury lawyers are in high demand. Car accident injuries can be devastating and can change your life in an instant. 

After the trauma of an accident, it’s a good idea to seek the advice of a car accident lawyer. Finding the right lawyer to represent you is so important.

If you’re unsure about what to look for when hiring an attorney, we can help! Here are 13 questions to ask Phoenix accident lawyers. 

1. What Are Your Credentials?

When there’s so much at stake, you want to put your trust in someone who has the right credentials. They should have a law degree from a reputable college or university. 

Feel free to ask if they’ve passed the bar exam as well. Although some paralegals offer legal services, you want a qualified, experienced Phoenix car accident attorney to represent you.

2. What Experience Do You Have?

In the legal profession, experience is key. Personal injury is an umbrella term that covers many areas including slips and falls, assault and battery, medical malpractice, and much more.

If you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident due to the negligence of another, you need a car accident lawyer. You don’t need a lawyer who’s inexperienced or just out of law school.

You want a Phoenix car accident attorney with plenty of experience in and out of the courtroom. They should have handled similar accident cases and feel confident about representing you.

3. What Do You Charge?

You may think that hiring an accident lawyer will cost you a fortune, but that’s not necessarily the case. Most personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation to determine if they can help you.

If they take your case, payment is usually based on a contingency fee. That means they get paid when you receive your settlement or win the case.

Attorneys have varying ways of charging for their services, so it’s important to ask. You want a Phoenix accident attorney with a fair and flexible payment structure as you seek relief from your injuries.

4. Have You Handled Cases Like Mine?

Every personal injury case is unique. You want a lawyer who has a history of success with similar cases to yours.

Knowing the success history of an attorney is a good way to gauge the potential for success in your case. A reputable attorney will be happy to discuss their success rates with similar accident cases.

5. Who Will Represent Me?

If you’re hiring a lawyer, the one you speak with initially may not be the lawyer who handles your case. Some law firms may give your case to a junior lawyer in their firm or delegate tasks to office staff.

If someone else is going to handle your case, you need to know. Make sure you ask who will be in contact with you and who will represent you.

6. How Will We Communicate?

Although you shouldn’t expect a daily report, you should expect to be contacted regularly about the progress of your case. Find out how and how often they will contact you.

You should know who to contact if you have a question or need to discuss your case. The Phoenix accident attorney you choose should be approachable and keep you well informed until a settlement is reached.

7. Will My Case Go to Trial?

All personal injury cases do not go to trial. In fact, most do not.

The majority of personal injury cases are resolved through negotiation. This is a much faster and cheaper way to resolve a personal injury case.

A personal injury lawyer will work to secure a mutually acceptable outcome and compensation amount. Sometimes, however, an acceptable settlement cannot be reached outside of court.

8. Do You Take Cases to Trial?

You need a car accident attorney with trial experience. If the insurance company knows you won’t take the case to court, they will not offer you the best possible settlement.

Make sure your attorney is willing to take your case to court to get the compensation you deserve. They must be willing to go the extra mile for you. If they are not, find another attorney who will.

9. How Long Will My Case Take?

If you are recovering from a car accident injury, you may be in a hurry to receive your settlement. It’s difficult to predict exactly how long your case will take.

During negotiations, many factors come into play. Some cases are resolved quickly, but others may drag on for weeks, months, or even years. 

It’s important to know that the lawyer you choose will work as long as it takes to achieve the maximum compensation for you.

10. How Many Cases Do You Have at One Time?

This is an important question for a personal injury lawyer. Experienced lawyers with a history of success often have many cases pending at any given time.

Although hiring an excellent lawyer is a plus, you don’t want your case to drag on any longer than it should. You want to entrust your case to a lawyer who has time and energy to devote to it.

Ask the attorney how many cases they have under litigation. They should be open and honest with you about whether they have the time to devote to getting you the compensation you deserve.

11. What Is My Case Worth?

It’s only normal to wonder what kind of compensation you could receive. It’s the reason you’re hiring a lawyer.

Your lawyer may give you an estimate of the compensation amount, but they cannot guarantee the outcome. During the negotiation process, many things can happen that can affect the compensation you receive.

When your attorney quotes a number, this is the amount they are trying to get for you. They may base this on similar case results.

Every case is different, and the outcome depends on your injuries and the complexities of the case. An attorney who overpromises a settlement is not the lawyer you want. 

Remember that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. They will try to get the highest compensation possible for you because it benefits them as well.

12. How and When Will I Receive Payment? 

Typically, once your case is settled, the money is divided depending on the contract you have with your lawyer. Once an amount is awarded for your injuries, there are administrative or court fees plus your lawyer’s contingency fee.

Once these fees are paid, you’ll receive the remainder of the settlement. Be sure to ask your attorney about the fees they charge and if there are any additional fees you should be aware of.

13. Why Should I Hire You?

Hiring an attorney is a big decision. If you’re hurting or out of work, you need someone you can trust to fight on your behalf.

An open-ended question can be very telling. Asking a lawyer why you should hire them can help you learn about their background and commitment to their clients.

Listening to them expound on their strengths and abilities can help you clarify whether they are qualified for the job. Your attorney should be personable and open to answering your questions.

They should be able to convince you they are well qualified to fight for the compensation you truly deserve. A satisfactory reply can help you feel confident in the choice you’re making. If you have doubts about an attorney, keep looking.

Choose the Best Phoenix Accident Lawyers 

If you’re dealing with a car accident injury, we know the stress and uncertainty you may be feeling. With so much at stake, you want to be certain you have the best Phoenix accident lawyers in your corner.

As an accident victim, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. It’s important to do your due diligence and make sure you have the right lawyer for your case.

At Sweet Law, we know how hard it can be to get on with life after an accident. We have 40 years of experience helping accident victims just like you.

We’d love to talk with you about your case to determine how we can help. If you’re unable to come to us, we’ll come to you.

Our goal is to fight diligently to get the maximum compensation our clients deserve. Don’t wait. Contact Sweet Law today to schedule a free consultation.