4 Essential Questions to Ask at Your Free Consultation

It's a good idea to consult with a personal injury attorney if you're injured, and someone else is responsible, whether it was a slip and fall, car accident, or medical malpractice. Most attorneys waive the fee for your initial consultation. The purpose is for your attorney to gather more information about your case. You can make the best use of your time during your initial consultation by preparing beforehand.

It's helpful to bring all relevant documents, including accident reports, photographs, X-Rays, and any other pertinent information. In addition to your attorney getting to know your case, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions. Here are four key question to get answers to during your consultation.

1. What is My Claim Worth?

The goal of a personal injury attorney is to file a successful claim and recover fair compensation. Insurance adjusters and personal injury attorneys use formulas to determine the value of your damages.

There may be a discrepancy in the amount the insurance company offers and the amount your lawyer determines is fair. This is where negotiation comes in.

Each case is different, and a number of factors go into putting a dollar amount on your losses. Typical factors used to calculate the value of your claim include your total medical expenses, loss of earnings due to missed work, physical and emotional pain and suffering, permanent injury, disfigurement and disability, reduction in quality of life during your recovery period, and future losses. Your attorney will determine what your claim is worth.

2. How Long Will My Case Take to Settle?

While the claims process is typically fairly straightforward, reaching a settlement can take some time. It's impossible to know exactly when your case will be settled. However, this is one of the most common questions clients ask, and your attorney can provide a general ballpark range to give you an idea.

A quick settlement may work in favor of the insurance company, depending on the type of injury you've sustained. Some injuries have a less predictable course of recovery, and you may require additional treatment that needs to account for. If you settle too quickly, you may miss out on fair compensation for future medical expenses.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer does not speed up the time it takes to reach a settlement. However, an experienced personal injury attorney will ensure that they handle your case professionally and that you receive a fair settlement for your injuries and losses.

3. Who Will Be Handling My Case?

It's important to find out who will be in charge of handling your case. It's not uncommon for personal injury clients to meet with an attorney for a consultation and then have their case handed off to an associate. Find out if the attorney you're meeting with is actually the contact person for your case.

Find out the specific person who will file your claim, work on your behalf in negotiations, and represent you, should your case go to trial. You want to make sure that your case will not be handed over to a less experienced associate.

4. Have You Handled Cases Similar to Mine?

Not all cases are the same, so it's best to find out if the attorney you're meeting with has experience handling cases like yours. During your consultation, inquire about the attorney's case history and directly ask if they've handled cases like yours. Ask about the outcome of the cases and pay attention to whether the claims truly are similar to yours.

When you or someone you know is injured, you may have a lot of questions. Let Wegner & Associates help you with your claim. Contact us for a free consultation. We fight for clients to receive a fair settlement for their injuries.