Finding the right Traverse City personal injury attorney for you can be difficult. You want someone who can get you the maximum amount of compensation possible, but there are many other factors you should consider as well. Consider asking potential attorneys the following questions to determine if they will be the best lawyer for your case. 

1. How much experience do you have with cases like mine? 

The first thing you’ll want to know is whether the Traverse City personal injury lawyer has experience with cases similar to yours. You can give them details about what happened in your case and ask them if they’ve ever handled anything like it. They should be able to give you specific examples of cases they’ve managed, even if they cannot name their clients due to attorney-client confidentiality. 

2. How much do you charge for legal fees and costs? 

You need to find out how the attorney gets paid. Are there any upfront costs involved with hiring the attorney? Will you have to cover any costs along the way? Attorneys have many ways in which they might obtain their fees, so it’s important to fully understand their fee structure. 

Most personal injury attorneys in Traverse City work on a contingency basis. That means that they don’t charge anything upfront. You don’t have to pay any legal fees until you get a settlement or jury verdict in your favor. The attorney will pay for the costs of the lawsuit until they recover a percentage of what you win. 

3. How long have you been practicing law? 

Tort law, which is the basis of personal injury cases, is complex. It’s important to work with a Traverse City personal injury lawyer who knows Michigan laws and can use that information to build you a strong case. The longer the attorney has been practicing law, the more experience they will have with cases like yours. 

However, this doesn’t mean you should never consider a younger attorney. Most newer attorneys have practiced law under experienced mentors who helped them gain knowledge quickly. If you are considering hiring a younger attorney, ask them about their past and how they learned about Michigan personal injury laws. 

4. Who will handle my case? 

Some law firms transfer the majority of tasks to paralegals or junior attorneys. Others have engaged partners who are personally involved in cases. There is no right or wrong model for a Traverse City personal injury law firm. However, you will want to know who is handling your case so that you know who to contact. 

It can actually be beneficial to have multiple people working on your case at the same time. This will ensure your case has the attention it deserves and may also speed up the legal process. A law firm with strong support staff, including paralegals and legal assistants who are knowledgeable, is often more efficient than one where attorneys do all the work themselves. 

5. How will you communicate with me throughout the case? 

You should have a clear understanding of how the attorney and their staff will communicate with you, as well as how often. Some attorneys prefer phone calls, while others are more digital-based and prefer emails or text messages. Find out which method of communication they prefer and how long you can expect to wait for responses. 

6. Can you provide client reviews or testimonials? 

While most attorneys cannot reveal the names of their current and former clients because of ethical and legal protections, you may be able to gain insight into the satisfaction of previous clients by looking at reviews and testimonials. If you Google the name of the attorney or their business, you may be able to see a star rating and comments from people who have hired the attorney in the past. 

Another place to look for client testimonials is on the attorney’s website. Many attorneys list comments from past clients on their Homepage or have a separate page that focuses on reviews. 

7. How much is my case worth? 

Every personal injury case is unique, so your attorney won’t be able to calculate your exact recovery amount. However, they can review your monetary losses, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, to determine your economic damages. They can also look at similar cases and estimate how much you may get for intangible losses, or non-economic damages. The best way to determine the value of your case is to discuss it with a Traverse City personal injury lawyer. 

8. What is your strategy for my case? 

An effective attorney will be able to look at your case and immediately start forming a strategy in their mind. They may not know exactly how to handle everything until they know details like insurance policy limits and defenses of the other parties; however, they can likely tell you whether you what steps they will take to help you get compensation. 

9. How do you approach negotiations with insurance companies? 

Personal injury attorneys in Traverse City need to be skilled at negotiating with third parties like insurance companies. Insurance companies are typically the parties who are held financially liable, due to their insured being at-fault. Those insurance companies hire large teams of powerful and experienced insurance defense attorneys. Your lawyer will need to fearlessly stand up against those insurance representatives and negotiate skillfully. 

Some common tactics of Traverse City personal injury lawyers include: 

• Sending a direct and aggressive demand letter detailing your damages

• Always rejecting the first offer because it is typically a lowball offer

• Being persistent when the insurance company tries to delay your claim

• Using strong evidence when insurance companies deny liability

• Challenging claims of contributory negligence

• Going to mediation if negotiations are not progressing

These tactics are essential for lawyers to effectively represent their clients and achieve favorable outcomes.

10. Do you have any questions for me? 

Remember, you are interviewing the attorney to find out if they are right for you and your case. You may want to ask them if they have any questions for you. This will give you some insight into what they need to know and how much interest they have in your case. It can also reveal their approach to client relationships. 

MichiganLawsuit.com is Right for You

With extensive experience handling Traverse City personal injury cases, MichiganLawsuit.com knows how to navigate a claim and get the maximum amount of compensation possible. We use a hands-on and proactive approach to communicate with clients, build strategies, and achieve successful outcomes. 

When you hire MichiganLawsuit.com, you are partnering with a team who will aggressively fight for your rights against shady insurance companies that want to take advantage of you. We won’t let you settle for less than you deserve. We have fine-tuned our practice to get large settlements for our clients who deserve the best. 

When you call our Traverse City personal injury law firm, we will schedule a time to meet with you. We will answer all your questions with in-depth information and knowledge that we have gained from experience and education. When you leave our office, we want you to feel confident about why you chose MichiganLawsuit.com. 

Call our Traverse City personal injury attorneys today at 855-LAW-MICH or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.