he process of hiring a personal injury lawyer in the Dallas Fort Worth area can be difficult and it is normal to feel overwhelmed. A good lawyer will help you win your case, and look out for your interests. There are many issues to consider when choosing a lawyer. Be sure to interview a number of different Dallas Fort Worth lawyers to be absolutely sure you find the lawyer who will best handle your case. A good place to start is an internet search using Google, Bing, Yahoo, Avvo, Lawyers.com or other tools to run down information.
The following questions are intended to help you in the selection process as you choose the right North Texas attorney.
Start with: Have you tried a case like this? Have you arbitrated a case like this? Many who call themselves “personal injury” attorney’s have never tried a case.
What training do you have in this area of law? Do not be afraid to ask for documentation of education including continuing education. This is a very important part of selecting the right lawyer for your needs.
Do you teach this area of practice to other lawyers? A sure sign of a quality lawyer is acceptance as a teacher among peers.
What is your work experience in your areas of practice? Many lawyers dabble in personal injury and wrongful death cases hoping to pull in a case and make a quick settlement. You do not want a divorce lawyer handling your serious personal injury or wrongful death case. Don’t be afraid to ask how many cases the lawyer has taken to trial or arbitration.
What is your rate structure? We believe graduated rate structures are a come on and an indication the lawyer is not willing to fight for you. In our office at Berenson Injury Law, most personal injury and wrongful death cases are charged a contingent fee of one third at every stage of the proceedings. We do not demand a higher fee to do what you hired us to do, go to trial. We aggressively pursue our cases and anticipate filing most of them.
Have you handled this type of case before? Ask for examples. While not completely necessary to know, it can ease your mind to know that your lawyer
has worked on cases like yours in Dallas, Fort Worth, and North Texas.
How are litigation costs handled? Serious personal injury lawyers do not ask you to pay up front or force you to finance your personal injury or wrongful death case as you go. A law firm that cannot afford to fund your case is not a good choice.
How will you keep me posted on the progress of the case? Before hiring a Fort Worth based lawyer make sure you understand how they plan on communicating the details of the case with you.
Look carefully at the fee agreement. Are you being asked to pay overhead in addition to a contingent fee agreement? I