Choosing a personal injury lawyer shouldn’t feel like a blind guess. Too many people sign with the first attorney they meet, or worse, pick someone based on a flashy TV commercial. Then they’re stuck wondering why their case isn’t going anywhere or why they can’t get their lawyer on the phone.
The good news? A handful of smart questions during your initial consultation can tell you almost everything you need to know about whether an attorney is right for your case. The trick is knowing what to ask and what the answers actually mean.
How Much Experience Do You Have With Cases Like Mine?
This seems obvious, but it’s surprising how many people forget to ask. Personal injury law covers a huge range of accidents – car crashes, slip and falls, medical mistakes, workplace injuries, dog bites, you name it. An attorney who handles tons of car accident cases might have zero experience with premises liability claims.
What matters is specific experience with your type of injury and accident. If someone rear-ended you at a stoplight, that’s pretty straightforward. But if you got hurt in a complex multi-vehicle pileup or a defective product case, you want a lawyer who’s successfully handled similar situations before.
Don’t just accept vague answers here. Ask how many cases like yours they’ve handled in the past year. Ask about their success rate. If they start hedging or changing the subject, that’s usually not a great sign.
How Will You Communicate With Me Throughout the Process?
This is where a lot of attorney-client relationships fall apart. Nothing’s more frustrating than being unable to reach your own lawyer when you have questions about your case. Some firms are great at signing clients but terrible at staying in touch afterward.
Ask how often you’ll receive updates. Find out if you’ll work directly with the attorney or mostly with paralegals and assistants (which isn’t necessarily bad, but you should know upfront). Get specifics about response times – if you call or email with a question, how quickly can you expect to hear back?
Pay attention to how they answer this question. If they’re vague or defensive about communication expectations, imagine how hard it’ll be to reach them once you’ve signed the retainer agreement. It’s often worth taking the time to speak with a local attorney who prioritizes client communication and has systems in place to keep people informed.
What’s Your Track Record With Settlements and Verdicts?
Here’s where things get interesting. Some lawyers will brag about the number of cases they’ve won, but that doesn’t tell you much if they’re settling everything for pennies on the dollar. You want to know about actual results – what kind of compensation their clients typically receive.
Ask about their largest settlements or verdicts in cases similar to yours. Find out their average settlement amounts. And here’s a critical one: ask how often they actually take cases to trial. Most injury cases settle, but if a lawyer has never seen the inside of a courtroom, insurance companies know they can lowball every offer.
The best attorneys can point to both strong settlements and successful trials. That combination shows they’re skilled negotiators who aren’t afraid to fight when needed. Insurance adjusters pay attention to which lawyers are willing to go to court, and they adjust their offers accordingly.
What Are Your Fees and How Do They Work?
Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you win. But the details matter a lot. The standard contingency fee is usually around 33% to 40% of your settlement or verdict, but it can vary based on whether the case settles early or goes to trial.
Ask exactly what percentage they charge and when that percentage increases. Find out what expenses you might be responsible for – things like filing fees, expert witness costs, or medical record charges. Some firms cover all expenses upfront and deduct them from your settlement. Others expect clients to pay certain costs regardless of the outcome.
Get this in writing and make sure you understand it completely. The last thing anyone wants is surprise deductions when the settlement check finally arrives.
Who Will Actually Work on My Case?
At larger firms, the attorney you meet during the consultation might not be the one handling your day-to-day case. Sometimes that’s fine – experienced paralegals and junior attorneys do excellent work. But you should know who’s doing what and have confidence in the whole team.
Ask who will be your main point of contact. Find out if the lead attorney will be personally involved in major decisions and negotiations. If multiple people will work on your case, ask about their experience and roles.
Red flag: firms that use senior attorneys to sign clients but then hand everything off to inexperienced staff with minimal oversight. You want a team approach, not a bait-and-switch.
How Long Do You Think My Case Will Take?
Nobody can predict exact timelines, but experienced attorneys should be able to give you a reasonable range based on similar cases. If they promise a quick settlement, be skeptical – insurance companies don’t just hand over big checks because you ask nicely.
Most injury cases take several months to a year or more, depending on the complexity and whether litigation is necessary. Treatment timelines matter too – you generally shouldn’t settle until you’ve reached maximum medical improvement and understand the full extent of your injuries.
Be wary of lawyers who push for super-fast settlements. Sometimes that’s in their interest (they get paid and move on to the next case) rather than yours. The goal is maximizing your compensation, not rushing to close the file.
What Makes You Different From Other Injury Lawyers?
This question reveals a lot about how attorneys see themselves and their practice. Do they focus on personalized attention? Aggressive negotiation? Trial expertise? Resources to take on big corporations?
Listen for specific answers rather than generic marketing speak. “We care about our clients” doesn’t tell you anything – every lawyer claims that. But “We invest in accident reconstruction experts for every serious crash case” or “We limit our caseload so each client gets individual attention” – those are meaningful differences.
The attorney’s answer should align with what you need. If you want someone who will fight hard and take risks to maximize your payout, make sure that’s their actual approach, not just their slogan.
Trust Your Gut After Getting Answers
After asking these questions, you should have a much clearer picture of whether an attorney is right for you. Look for specific answers backed by experience, clear communication, and transparent fee structures. Watch for red flags like evasiveness, pressure tactics, or promises that sound too good to be true.
The right injury lawyer should make you feel confident, informed, and like you’re working with someone who genuinely wants to help you get fair compensation. If you’re feeling uncertain or pressured after a consultation, keep looking. This decision is too important to rush or get wrong.
