Ohio is a fault state. If someone (who owed you a duty of care) was responsible for an accident that left you with serious injuries and losses, you could file an injury claim. Winning a settlement, however, won’t be easy. The at-fault party and their insurer will want to evade liability, and you need strong evidence to prove your claim. Having a Toledo personal injury lawyer by your side can help. With numerous attorneys in the industry, how do you choose one? We have a few tips below that can help make a choice.
Experience before everything
Personal injury law can be hard to comprehend. Things can be very different in a medical malpractice lawsuit compared to an auto accident. As such, you must find an injury lawyer with specific experience. Consider asking questions like –
- How long have you been practicing as an injury lawyer?
- How frequently do you deal with similar cases?
- What are the best and worst outcomes of such cases?
- Do you have experience representing clients in court?
- How frequently do you go to trial?
Many injury lawsuits in Ohio are settled outside of court. However, when a trial is necessary, you need the right lawyer to argue on your behalf. Insurance companies often have the best attorneys and legal teams, and you need to be confident of your lawyer’s ability to negotiate and argue as required.
Check for the possible concerns
No matter the circumstances, even the best injury lawyers cannot promise an outcome. Yes, the lawyer can definitely evaluate the merits and demerits of your case and offer an overview of the expected settlement, but they cannot guarantee anything. This is a serious red flag while hiring a lawyer. Secondly, check if a particular injury lawyer is responsive. The attorney needs to be accessible and available to discuss your case. Also, the attorney you meet may end up assigning the case to an attorney or partner. That’s not necessarily a concern, but you must meet the new attorney.
The fee of the attorney
Usually, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee. The attorney gets paid if the client wins a settlement. Such an arrangement ensures that one can hire an attorney without paying an immediate fee. Keep in mind that the fee is a part of the settlement, which can vary between 20% and 40%.
Even if you trust the lawyer, get an estimate of the possible costs and their fee to weigh your decisions.
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