Hiring a personal injury lawyer? Ask yourself these questions first

Having a personal injury lawyer by your side is important if you ever get in an accident as they are the one who has an in-depth knowledge of the law to help protect you. If ever you are caught in an unfortunate event, they are the ones who will come to rescue you (besides the ambulance and police, of course).

The duty of a personal injury lawyer does not only revolve around assessing claims and proving that you are innocent. It includes negotiation to get better deals and monetary compensations to make up for the damages that have been made. However, before deciding to hire a personal injury lawyer, there are certain questions you need to ask yourself first.

5 questions you need to ask yourself before hiring a personal injury lawyer

1. Do I have the budget?

Personal injuries fall under the category of Law of Torts, meaning to say it has something to do with relationships between individuals over a particular thing. In this case, you and the other party have a distinction of being involved in an accident.

Personal injury cases either settle for a certain amount or go to trial and civil litigation -- which both require splurging out thousands of bucks. Prior to hiring a personal injury lawyer, do you have a budget? Can you pay the costs of legal representation? Will it break your bank? Will it leave you in deep debt?

2. Does the lawyer have good reviews?

Relevant to the first question, if you are on a tight budget, you certainly need to make sure that the money you put on the table goes for something worth it. You do not want to spend your savings and income paying for a lawyer who will end up sabotaging your case or settle for an amount you do not deserve. 

An injury lawyer Albuquerque with a lot of good reviews has definitely learned a lot from experience. Make sure that the lawyer that you want to represent you have good reviews and feedback from credible people.

3. What is the lawyer’s level of courtroom experience?

If the case goes to trial (which is very unlikely), you will need a professional who will please the law, the jury, and the judge. Check or directly ask your lawyer for his courtroom experience. Law students, even in their first years as an associate, are given a chance to set foot on courtrooms. Though it is very unlikely that they spend most of their time here as it differs per specializations.

In most cases, public defenders and prosecutors spent much of their work-life inside the court alongside lawyers specializing in Family Law and Criminal Law.

4. How long has the lawyer been practicing personal injury law?

To be able to practice law, one must have a bachelor’s degree of at least 4 years and go to law school for another 4 years. If you think that this is long enough for a duration of studying, then you are mistaken. This excludes masteral degree, specializations, and doctorate.

A lawyer who is legally allowed to practice law can go straight to the specialization field without pursuing master's or doctorate. There are different areas of law specialization and one of these is personal injury law. There are no minimum years required to be able to tell a lawyer’s specialization practice years. But make sure that your lawyer of choice is familiar and has spent enough time in this field to represent your case.

5. What makes him the right lawyer for my case?

To be qualified to pursue your case, a lawyer must have good academic standing and work experience to represent you. Remember that this case bears your name, any conflict that may arise can greatly affect you. Pick someone who will advocate for your greater good.

Being involved in an accident is an overwhelming feeling. You may experience being in an unstable state for a while. But keep in mind that your present and future lies in the case being filed and you need someone who will look out for your well-being.