If you have been injured in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, or any of the surrounding areas, filing a personal injury lawsuit may be your best bet at pursuing compensation. Before you do, however, you’ll need to meet with an attorney. Here are 10 questions to ask a lawyer before hiring someone
1. What Type of Personal Injury Law Do You Focus On?
You want to work with an attorney who is experienced in the practice area that is relevant to your injury. For example, an attorney who specializes in dog bite claims may not be best for your car accident case. Because there are many types of personal injury cases and practices areas, it is important to clarify.
2. What Is Your Success Rate?
Of course, an attorney with a high rate of success is a plus. Ask the attorney how many cases he or she has won, and what the average settlement or verdict amount is.
3. How Long Have You Been Practicing?
The more experienced an attorney is, the better chance that he or she will have a solid foundation for case building, strategizing, and negotiating.
4. How Much Do You Charge?
Stay away from attorneys who ask you to pay for your initial consultation, want you to pay upfront, or charge hourly fees. A good attorney will be confident in his or her ability to fight for full and fair compensation, and will therefore work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will only pay legal fees if and when the attorney recovers compensation for you.
5. Do You Have Any Client Testimonials I Can Read?
Ask the attorney if he or she has any client testimonials or reviews that you can read before you move forward. In some cases, you may even be able to talk to former clients about their experience working with the attorney.
6. What Is My Case Worth?
Although it can be hard to judge what your case is worth in a single consultation, don’t be fooled by an attorney who promises you millions of dollars. The attorney should lay out the basics for you in terms of types of damages available, and he or she should be confident that your case is worth pursuing without promising unrealistic amounts.
7. Who Will Be Working on My Case?
Some lawyers are so busy that rather than working on your case themselves, they hand off your case to a staff member. You want an attorney working for you.
8. How Long Will My Case Take to Resolve?
Again, don’t be fooled by promises that your case will be resolved in an unrealistic amount of time, like a few weeks or a month. Most cases take months’ worth of investigations and negotiation to resolve.
9. Have You Ever Been Named in a Lawsuit or Suspended from Practice of Law?
Ask the attorney if he or she has ever encountered any trouble that is directly related to legal practice. Legal malpractice is a real thing, as is being suspended from practicing law. You can look up an attorney through the website of The Florida Bar for more information about whether or not he or she is in good standing.
10. How Many Cases Do You Handle at a Time?
You want an attorney who has enough time to prioritize your case. So don’t be afraid to ask the attorney how many cases he or she handles at a time.
Do You Have More Personal Injury Questions? Contact Us Today
If you have more questions, contact the Florida personal injury lawyers at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Ryles to schedule a free case consultation today.
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Client Testimonials
On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | November 23, 2022 | Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles can be an economical and environmentally-friendly way to get around, as well as a mode of recreation and fun. However, they can also be quite dangerous, often thanks to other motorists. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and other sources, in 2020 alone, there were 83,000 motorcycle accident injuries and nearly 5,560 deaths.
While helmets and motorcyclist education can help reduce the rates of injury crashes, other motorists are also to blame. Suppose you suffer an injury or even lose someone you love in a motorcycle accident. In that case, it's in your best interest to get skilled Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorneys to help you. Even if you aren't sure if you really have a claim, it's essential to have an experienced lawyer review the circumstances of your accident to determine if you might be eligible for compensation.
The Benefits of Hiring Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Aside from seeking medical care, contacting Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident lawyers is the most important thing you can do after being involved in a motorcycle accident. If you decide to hire them to represent your claim, they can help you in many ways, such as:
Ensuring your case is filed on time: Florida has a four-year personal injury statute of limitations. This means that if you are going to file a lawsuit, you must do so within four years of suffering your injuries. If you fail to file within that time period, you will lose your legal right to pursue compensation for your injuries. Your attorney will be highly aware of any deadlines that apply to your case and ensure they are met.
Preventing early or low-ball settlements: Insurance adjusters often love to talk to unsuspecting motorcycle accident victims as soon after the accident as possible. Catching them before they have the chance to talk with Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident lawyers increases the chances that they will accept a very small settlement right away. However, if you speak with an attorney, you will likely know that your claim is worth much more than any of their early, low-ball settlement offers.
Maximizing your settlement: Your legal team is well-versed in maximizing your settlement dollars. They will know the strengths of your case and uncover every possible insurance policy that can be relied upon to provide you with the compensation you deserve. They are also skilled negotiators that can point out the weaknesses in the other party's claim and use them to your advantage.
Taking care of logistics: Motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries that require time and rest to recover from. If you are taking care of all the logistics for your accident claim, you may not get the time and rest you need. When you hire an attorney, they can take on these tasks—from filing court documents and obtaining medical records to speaking to insurance adjusters and obtaining an accident report. With a legal team to handle the logistics of your case, you can have the space and time you need to recover as fully as possible.
Contact the Knowledgeable Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Always contact knowledgeable Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident lawyers to review your case, no matter how big or small you think your motorcycle accident might be. If you don't, you could miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve. Call Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa today at 561-478-2500 or use our convenient online contact form to receive a complimentary case consultation.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
Author's Bio