When you are hurt due to someone else's negligence and you need a personal injury attorney, you may feel frightened and unprepared. This can be attributed to the fact that you may be in physical pain and you may have lost a substantial amount of money due to your injuries. It is tempting to hire the first lawyer you call. While this will get the case started, making a hasty decision about your legal representation is a mistake. Choosing the wrong attorney could keep you from getting the full amount of money you deserve. It is important to conduct a thorough consultation and interview in order to make a wise decision concerning your legal representation.

Do Your Research Before You Meet with a Personal Injury Attorney

Before you call the first name that pops up on a Google search for personal injury attorney or that your Aunt Sally referred you to, there are a number of initial steps you should take. You need to do your research so that you are prepared for that initial consultation. Be sure to find out everything you can about the lawyers you are interested in working with. This includes finding out how long they have been practicing in this field of law and what their trial success rate is. You need to find out how many cases have gone to trial and which side the attorney usually plays for. You also should look to see if you can find out if their license has ever been suspended or revoked, as well as if they are active in any trial lawyer associations. If you cannot find this information online, be sure to ask him or her when you have your first meeting.

What to Ask a Personal Injury Attorney

In addition to finding out the above information, it is also important that you enquire into what the actual fees are. As a free consultation is not always free. In addition, you also need to ask whom you will be dealing with. The person you meet the first time may not be the personal injury attorney in charge of your case or he or she will leave the heavy lifting to their paralegal. Also be sure to ask how long he or she expects the case to last and how much he or she believes you can get in the end. Be sure to find out what type of experts he or she has access to and how their payment is arranged.

Be Prepared to Meet with a Personal Injury Attorney

Not only do you need to research prospective personal injury attorneys and have a list of questions ready to ask them, there is also a substantial amount of information you need to bring with you. Be sure to have a copy of the police report, your health records, and medical bills. You should also bring your insurance information, both auto and health, as well as pictures from the accident scene.

If you are in the El Paso area and are in need of a personal injury attorney, contact Brandon L. Lettunich, Attorney at Law.