Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
The first question most pedestrian accident victims have is whether they need to retain the services of a personal injury lawyer. If you have sustained no injuries or minor injuries, you may not need a personal injury lawyer. However, if you have suffered severe injuries such as broken bones, internal injuries, head or spinal cord injuries that affect your ability to live your life normally, then you should be looking for an experienced Washington pedestrian accident lawyer right away.
What Does An Attorney Cost?
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that in most cases you will not pay anything unless you win your case. After you case is settled an attorney will charge a percentage of your settlement as the fee.
How Do I Choose An Attorney?
There are a few things you should know about attorneys and advertising. Many of the large commercials you see on TV are actually ads for multiple attorneys utilizing a referral agency. Your call may be deferred to any of the lawyers contributing to the ad. Many of the best attorneys do not use large TV ads but instead get their business from word-of-mouth and referrals. The large ads in your yellow pages can be just as deceptive as the television commercials. A good approach is to find a local attorney you trust and seek a referral. The best way to hear about the quality of service attorneys provide is through their clients. You may also check the attorney's qualifications or disciplinary record through the State Bar Association.
What Questions Should I Ask?
- What are your areas of specialization? (Many lawyers may advertise themselves as personal injury lawyers, but may not have much experience with personal injury claims).
- Have you handled similar cases to mine and what was the outcome?
- What is a reasonable timeline for my case?
- Do you work on a contingency fee basis?
- What information do you need from me to help my case?
- Do you believe my case will have to go to trial?
- Have you ever faced an ethics committee or been suspended?
- How often will you keep me informed about the progress of my case?
It is imperative that you have a face-to-face meeting with your attorney. Look around. Is the office well-maintained? How were you treated on your first visit? Did you have to wait long? Were you kept updated about your appointment? Did the attorneys or paralegals answer your questions in a satisfactory manner? These are all important issues to consider before you retain the services of an attorney.
At the same time, it is also important to remember that you need to act quickly. In any type of vehicular accident, including a pedestrian accident, physical evidence and other important evidence could be lost, misplaced or destroyed. You need to get an attorney on your case right away so he or she can get working on it right away.
IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF A WASHINGTON PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT - CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
