You were injured in a car crash and are aware that the other party was reckless and negligent. You want to now recover compensation for your losses so that you can pay for your medical bills and other expenses related to the injury. In fault states like North Carolina, you must file a third-party insurance claim first, and if things don’t pan out as expected, you can file a civil lawsuit. The statute of limitations in NC allows three years to file such lawsuits. Expectedly, you should start working on your case early and must consider all possible outcomes. One of the first steps is to consult an injury lawyer. Here are some pointers worth knowing.
Meet the attorney in person
Don’t forget to schedule a free initial consultation with your selected attorney. Most law firms that take up personal injury cases don’t charge a fee for reviewing a new case, and you get to know your claim better. Also, you don’t have to pay the lawyer to fight your case, at least not immediately. Lawyers take injury lawsuits on a contingency fee, which means that they can only bill the client when they win. The rate may vary, but the standard range is anywhere between 30% and 40%.
Make a list of questions
Before you step in for a personal meeting with the personal injury lawyer, you should have a list of questions ready. Include queries like –
- What do you think of my personal injury lawsuit?
- What do I need to do now to protect my interests?
- What can you tell me about your experience with such cases?
- Have you ever been to court for personal injury lawsuits? If yes, what’s your success rate?
- What would you call your landmark cases? What are the maximum settlements you have won so far?
- Are you personally going to fight my case? If not, can I meet your associate?
- What is my injury lawsuit worth? How quickly can I expect to get a settlement?
- What do you expect from me? What information or documents do you need?
- What should I do when I meet the claims adjuster? Can you handle communication for me?
Finally, ask the attorney about the other expenses related to the case. You are expected for these extra things, and it would help if you had an estimate in advance. Start with a Google search to find local personal injury lawyers.