If you are consulting a lawyer to help you with your personal injury case in attorney, chances are it is free. The purpose of the consultations is to help you decide if the lawyer is the right person for the job. Apart from that, it helps the attorney evaluate your case and determine if it is worth pursuing and how to get a favorable outcome.
However, it is vital that you know the essence of your initial consultation before meeting with the lawyer. This article gives you a rundown of things you should understand before you meet with a personal injury attorney in Illinois.
You Are Not Obligated to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
The initial consultations are for you to evaluate the lawyer and decide if you can work with them. Therefore, you are not under any obligation to hire them, nor are they obligated, in any way, to represent you. You and the lawyer will mutually agree to enter a client-attorney relationship, which you will formalize by signing a fee agreement.
The Consultation is Not Unlimited
That initial consultation with a personal injury attorney comes with a timeframe – usually a limited time to discuss the case. Typically, the staff of the law firm will inform you of the length of time the consultation will last.
However, the lawyer can spend additional time if they desire, but it has to be their choice; respect the lawyer’s schedule. It helps to write down the questions you have so that you can fully maximize the short time you have.
Talk About the Elephant in the Room: The Fees
One of the most important issues you should discuss with the lawyer is the fees. Fees tend to cause disagreements between lawyers and clients because they fail to agree from the start of the relationship.
Discussing the personal injury attorney fees right from the start helps reduce misunderstandings later. Generally, you would not have to pay anything until after the lawyer has won your case – something known as contingencies.
You Are Basically Interviewing the Attorney
You need to understand that these free consultations are opportunities to interview a personal injury lawyer before you hire them. Therefore, ask as many questions as necessary to determine if the lawyer meets your expectations. As the lawyer answers your questions, pay attention to how they communicate and explain things; it is an indication of their communication skills.
Communication is Essential
The attorney needs to be able to communicate well with you and keep you reasonably involved in your case. You need to be sure that they will not go over your head but will respect your decisions. They have to be someone you can ask questions regarding the progress of your claim.
Understand Their Past Experience Handling Similar Cases
“Among other things, an attorney is trained to review cases based on the facts and applicable laws and determine whether there is ground to institute an action,” says Attorney Michael McCready of McCreadyLaw Injury Attorneys. With adequate experience, a lawyer can tell if your case is worth pursuing just by looking at it. Also, they can predict how long resolving the case will take and help them develop a strategy for handling the case. Therefore, look for a lawyer with experience handling personal injury cases similar to yours to get the best representation.
Conclusion
If you have a personal injury claim in Illinois, getting a lawyer is paramount as it can influence the outcome. However, before you hire a lawyer, it is essential that you understand fully what those initial consultations mean. Having explained the significance of free consultations, we have no doubt you are now prepared to get the best legal representation.