What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Attorney?

Injury,Personal Injury • November 29, 2021

Being injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness is an incredibly frustrating experience and it can be very traumatic for you and your family. If your injuries are severe, it’s unlikely that your first thought is about hiring a lawyer. However, it’s a good idea to consider speaking to a Jersey City personal injury attorney as soon as you feel well enough to do so. There is a deadline by which you must file a claim, so don’t wait too long to find a lawyer or you could miss out on compensation that you’re legally entitled to. Finding a lawyer can be intimidating, though, especially if you don’t have any recommendations from people you know and trust. When deciding which lawyer to hire, consider asking the following questions to try to get a feel for who will be the best fit for you and your case.

What is your fee structure?

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means they don’t collect any money from you upfront; they only get paid if they win or settle your case. While this is the norm, there are always going to be lawyers who stray from this and charge an hourly fee or a flat fee. Make sure you know how they plan to charge you before deciding to hire them.

Am I responsible for any costs if we lose my case?

You might think that a lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis would never charge you anything if you lose, but some attorneys will charge you certain expenses regardless of the outcome of your case. Will you be responsible for filing fees, expert witness consultations, or the price of obtaining medical records even if you lose? This is something you want to know before you make your decision.

What is your experience with my particular type of case?

Hiring a lawyer who has a lot of experience in practicing law is great, but it’s important to know what type of cases they usually handle. Hiring an attorney who typically deals with criminal cases isn’t going to do you much good, even if they’ve been a lawyer for 20 years. You want someone who is familiar with personal injury cases, and particularly your type of personal injury case.

How many personal injury cases have you taken to trial and how many of them did you win?

The majority of personal injury cases settle before they ever get to trial. While there’s nothing wrong with this, you want to make sure you hire a lawyer who isn’t afraid to go to trial and who has the knowledge and experience to take the case to trial if necessary. If you hire someone who has only dealt with settlements in the past, you could find yourself being pushed to accept a settlement offer that is far less than what you truly deserve.

Will I be able to communicate with you throughout the process?

Many personal injury attorneys are very busy. This sometimes means that when you have a question or concern about your case, you’re pushed onto a secretary or paralegal who isn’t directly involved in your case. This can be incredibly frustrating when the person you really want to speak with is your actual lawyer. Ask any potential lawyers how they handle communication with clients. Are they available to speak on the phone? Are they available via email? It’s important that you feel comfortable with your lawyer and that you can have easy and open communication with them.

Hiring a personal injury attorney is an important decision, so make sure you know what you’re looking for and ask the right questions to find the lawyer best suited for you and your case.

Lia Abrams

Highly Recommend Matthew R. Romo, Jr., Esq. I had a truly outstanding experience working with Matthew R. Romo, Jr. He was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive throughout the entire process. What impressed me most was his ability to explain complex legal matters in a way that was easy to understand, making me feel confident and informed every step of the way. Matthew genuinely cared about my case and always made time to answer my questions, no matter how small. His attention to detail and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome truly set him apart. If you’re looking for a trustworthy, compassionate, and skilled attorney, I highly recommend Matthew R. Romo, Jr. He made a stressful situation much more manageable, and I’m grateful for his support.

michele conti

If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being injured in a car accident, look no further! Forget all those big billboard lawyers and call this firm immediately. Diane Cordoso handled 2 cases for me... I had the bad luck of being hit more than once in a short period of time.... Diane, Maria, her assistant, and the entire team are compassionate, professional, and are perfect examples of what you need in these situations. They communicate every step of the way and are always on the ball. I sincerely hope to never have to use their services again lol... I've had enough careless drivers hit and injure me thanks... BUT God forbid I'm ever in that horrible situation again, I know who to call. If your attorney isn't getting the job done, call this firm! TODAY!

Megi Verzivolli

Great service provided from day 1. I would recommend to all friends and family.

hey hi, it's Keidaï

Really appreciated the thoughtful, proactive, kind, efficient, and respectful interaction during a time of tragedy and shock that I had never experienced before. I called and asked some questions about how they do business, after researching a bit online on what to ask a personal injury lawyer and find a good fit – I strongly advise anyone to do the same and not make a rushed decision. I highly recommend working with the team. I'm very glad I went them in the end – thank you for your help and for standing up for me when I wasn't able to. PS Diane is awesome (:

Ilzo Silva

“Gostaria de expressar minha imensa satisfação com o trabalho realizado pela advogada Diane Cardoso, do escritório Brady Reilly & Cardoso. Desde o início, fui tratado com profissionalismo, respeito e empatia. Diane demonstrou um conhecimento profundo da área jurídica e uma dedicação excepcional ao meu caso, garantindo que tudo fosse conduzido de forma clara e eficiente. Graças ao esforço dela, obtive um resultado muito positivo, e cada etapa do processo foi explicada detalhadamente, o que me trouxe muita tranquilidade. Recomendo Diane e o escritório Brady Reilly & Cardoso a qualquer pessoa que busque uma equipe competente, confiável e comprometida. Muito obrigado por tudo!

Thee best law firm in all of NJ. Mrs. Cardoso and her team surpassed our expectations. She was always available and posses great knowledge in law. Diane was kind to my mother and my child’s needs and defend our case to the fullest. I would recommend her to everyone. If you want a lawyer who is intelligent, caring and takes the cases to heart, then this is your go to person.

Peter Iorio

Highly recommended! The process was long due to my case beginning when COVID started but rest assure this law firm was with me the whole time. The communication was great. Not one time was I ever disappointed in the process. The outcome exceeded my expectations. Kathleen and her team are amazing. I know I was annoying at times and very restless about my case but they handled it well and when it was all said and done, they got me more than I expected! They work very hard to get you the most compensation you deserve! Again, highly recommended!!! Thanks team.

lauren macksoud

Diane Cardoso was amazing to work with. She held our hand during a stressful time for our family and provided not only comfort, but expert guidance to navigate the process. We are so grateful to have worked with Diane towards a successful settlement for our daughter. I cannot recommend her highly enough to anyone in need of legal assistance for a personal injury claim. Thank you Diane!

Jacqueline Armijos

Diane Cardoso is such a great lawyer! I am very happy with the results of my case. She is a trustful lawyer. Her law firm kept me informed of all the important details. I will definitely recommend her.