Hiring a personal injury lawyer is an intimidating decision.
What if you choose one who doesn’t have the experience or qualifications required to push back against the insurance company? You may have to accept a lower payout than you’re owed.
The problem is that most people don’t really know what questions to ask to evaluate a personal injury lawyer, so they go into an interview unprepared.
But we’ve got you covered.
This guide covers the 20 most important questions to ask about a lawyer’s expertise, how they’ll handle your personal injury claim, your involvement, and what to expect financially. Knowing the answers will ensure you don’t get stuck with an underqualified or untrustworthy lawyer.
We’ll also explain how to prepare for your appointment to get the most out of it.
If you need a trusted personal injury attorney, No Bull Law provides unmatched legal representation. Book a free case evaluation with us today to get straightforward answers to your burning questions.
You should look for a personal injury lawyer whose credentials you can trust and who can clearly explain the legal process to you (so you never feel out of your depth along the way).
Below, we’ll cover key questions to ask a potential personal injury lawyer in a consultation across the following key areas:
Their answers to these questions should tell you if they’re reputable and whether they're the right lawyer for your case.
Note: Your consultation doesn’t have to be a rigid Q&A between you and your lawyer, and you probably don’t need to ask every question. A skilled lawyer will often anticipate and address them before you can ask. Just make sure that you know all of these answers by the end of the consultation.
Ask these questions to assess if a law firm is well-equipped for handling cases like yours:
1. What Areas Does Your Law Firm Specialize In?
There are numerous fields of law, from property law to family law to criminal defense, just naming a few. For a personal injury case, you’ll want an experienced attorney specializing in personal injury law in your state. This ensures they’re familiar with common insurance tactics, liability rules, and courtroom strategies.
For example, No Bull Law specializes in personal injury law across six practice areas, including car accidents, wrongful death, and workplace injury.
Be wary of “jack-of-all-trades” law firms or firms that handle a wide variety of cases, especially if it’s a smaller firm, as they may lack deep expertise in personal injury claims.
However, a very large law firm may have several departments, one of which handles personal injury law. That’s fine as long as they treat you with the individualized care you deserve.
2. How Long Have You Practiced Personal Injury Law, and How Much of Your Work Involves It?
Not all attorneys specialize in personal injury law, and even among those who do, experience ranges widely. You’ll want to know how many years they’ve been practicing personal injury law and what percentage of their caseload involves personal injury claims.
An accident attorney who regularly handles injury cases will outmatch one who only takes them on occasionally.
Ask for examples of past cases similar to yours and what the outcomes were. This gives you insight into how well-versed the attorney is in your specific type of claim.
For instance, if you were in a pedestrian accident, you don’t want to hire an accident lawyer who’s only familiar with vehicle accidents involving drivers to handle your car accident claim. Likewise, if you had a workplace injury, a car accident lawyer isn’t going to be the right personal injury lawyer for you.
Knowing case results of similar clients can help you set realistic expectations.
3. How Many Cases Does Your Firm Handle at a Time?
A lawyer juggling too many cases may not give yours the attention it deserves.
The right lawyer should be able to reassure you that the firm has the resources and personnel to take on your case. After finding out how many cases they handle at once, ask for specific examples of how the firm ensures quality service — such as dedicated case managers or regular updates.
Follow up with: Who will actually be working on my case?
Their answer should give you an idea of how the firm is structured, especially at larger firms where your case may be handled by a team that includes client callers, case managers, paralegals, and supervising attorneys.
Knowing who your main point of contact is and who’s doing the legal work helps build trust, keeping your experience more personal and transparent.
Answers to upcoming questions about win rate and timelines should give you further context for their ability to effectively manage their caseload.
4. How comfortable are you with taking injury cases to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but you still need a lawyer who is fully prepared to go to trial if a fair settlement isn’t possible.
A skilled lawyer who is a tough negotiator might be better than average at litigating settlement offers and getting you fair compensation without going to court. However, you still want a lawyer who is experienced and willing to go to trial. Some personal injury attorneys may pressure you to settle for less to avoid taking the time and effort to fight for full compensation in court.
No matter what, a strong personal injury attorney should demonstrate trial experience and a willingness to go to trial if necessary.
5. What is your success rate?
Most personal injury law firms strive for a 90-95% win rate for settlements and 75%+ for cases that go to court.
A lawyer should be transparent about their case results. It’s cause for concern if they avoid the question, give a number significantly lower than the accepted standard, or claim a 100% success rate (which is unrealistic).
The following questions will give you insight into the viability of your personal injury claim, the compensation you might get, and the details of the process ahead of you:
6. Can you tell me your thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
A lawyer’s answer to this question can tell you a lot about their skill and honesty. They should draw on past experience and demonstrate their knowledge of factors that might work for and against you.
A realistic assessment that doesn’t shy away from possible hurdles is a sign of an honest and experienced attorney.
7. How much do you think my case is worth?
It’s natural to want to know what your case might be worth, but be cautious of any lawyer who gives you a dollar value right away. There are too many unknowns early on, such as how your injuries will heal or whether liability will be disputed.
The best answer should emphasize that estimations can change as the case progresses rather than guarantee a high settlement.
8. How long will my case take?
Some personal injury cases settle within months, but complex cases involving multiple parties, liability disputes, or trials can take years.
An experienced lawyer will explain the factors that affect case timelines, including negotiations, medical treatment, and potential court proceedings. Rushing a settlement can lead to lower compensation, so a promise of a speedy resolution should raise eyebrows.
9. Will I be able to recover non-economic damages?
Economic damages like medical bills, legal fees, and property damage are easier to calculate and prove since they have innate financial value.
Non-economic damages cover factors like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. They don’t have an inherent financial value but can be assigned value based on severity. Your ability to recover them depends on state laws, injury severity, and case specifics.
A good personal injury attorney will discuss how non-economic damages are calculated and whether they apply to your case. They should express willingness to pursue non-economic damages to maximize your claim, even though they’re harder to prove.
10. Do you expect my case to go to trial?
A strong injury lawyer should be able to give a prediction based on the facts of your case, the strength of your evidence, and the attitude they expect from the opposite side.
However, they should emphasize that the expected outcome can change as events unfold and that going to court is ultimately your choice.
11. What will our first steps be?
An experienced attorney will take the time to explain the process they usually follow for similar injury cases, and tailor their process to your specific case. A vague answer could indicate that the firm doesn’t have well-organized procedures or isn’t particularly interested in your case.
12. What options will I have if things don’t go as planned?
An experienced lawyer will willingly discuss contingency plans instead of giving you empty promises and reassurances. They should provide examples of alternative legal strategies or other ways of accessing compensation (e.g., covering your medical treatment costs) if your personal injury lawsuit or settlement doesn’t work out.
The questions below will clarify how the law firm will communicate with you and what role you’ll play in the process. You ideally want a personal injury lawyer who will take the tough legal tasks off your plate while keeping you fully informed about your injury case.
13. How will I be involved in the case?
A personal injury law firm will handle legal work like filing paperwork, writing up legal documents, and negotiating. However, they should be able to provide a roadmap of key moments where they will need your input. This can include providing documentation, attending medical appointments, and giving your approval on the direction of the case.
14. What evidence do I need to provide?
Strong cases rely on solid evidence. Personal injury lawyers should be able to advise you on what kinds of documentation to keep handy, such as medical records, photos and videos (of the scene and your injuries), and pay stubs.
15. How often will we speak about my case?
Communication is key in a personal injury claim. Some firms provide weekly or monthly updates, while others check in only when major developments occur. It’s important to know upfront how often you can expect to hear from your attorney and whether they’ll be proactive in keeping you informed. If responses are slow or vague from the start, that might signal issues with accessibility down the line.
16. Will I have a contact I can call for updates about my case?
Having a direct point of contact can make a huge difference in streamlining the legal process and easing your anxieties. It’s ideal to have someone always available to answer questions and provide updates. If they only offer a general office line with no clear contact person, you may struggle to get timely information when you need it.
Finally, you should get clarity on your financial obligations. The standard for personal injury law firms is to use a contingency fee structure, with no up-front fees and no cost if you lose. However, some less trustworthy firms try to take advantage of people who aren’t informed about industry standards around fees.
17. Do you charge any up-front fees?
The majority of personal injury firms don’t require any money up-front. Instead, legal fees are deducted from your settlement or verdict. But you should always clarify the fee structure before signing anything to avoid unexpected costs.
If a firm asks for retainers or hourly fees, it’s worth questioning why. There are plenty of top-quality personal injury lawyers (like the attorneys at No Bull Law) who work on contingency.
18. Will I have to pay for anything if we lose?
Some firms (like No Bull Law) operate on a strict "no win, no fee" policy. They’ll cover all case-related expenses themselves if they can’t secure a favorable settlement or verdict. Others might require injury victims to reimburse certain costs (e.g., filing fees and expert witness expenses) even if they don’t win. You should always ask for specifics so you can prepare accordingly.
19. How much do you charge if we win?
Most personal injury firms take a percentage of the final settlement or verdict, typically between 33% and 40%, depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. Some firms may have a sliding scale where the percentage increases if civil litigation is required.
Beware of unusual fee structures. For example, if a lawyer promises that you’ll win a million dollars and asks you to sign an agreement to pay them a flat fee of $100,000, you should run the other way.
20. What do I do about my bills while I’m waiting for the payout?
Personal injury lawyers should have a thorough understanding of the financial stressors clients face while cases are ongoing. For example, severe and catastrophic injury cases leave injury victims dealing with huge medical expenses alongside loss of income.
Your lawyer should be able to explain your options, such as medical liens, delayed billing, the role of health insurance, and funding options.
They should also weigh in on how you can deal with your medical expenses if you don’t win and how they can support you in that case. Ask if they can continue to advise and represent you if you need to seek alternative routes of compensation.
No Bull Law is a personal injury law firm with extensive expertise across the following practice areas:
- Auto accidents
- Wrongful death
- Product liability (harm caused by unsafe products)
- Workplace injury
- Slip and fall accidents
Not only do we have deep experience with injury cases, we also strive to ensure individualized care and dignity for every client.
If you want to work with us, you can start by filling out the contact form to book a consultation. Consultations are free, no-obligation, and confidential.
Here’s what you can expect to discuss:
- Details of your accident and injuries
- An overview of available evidence
- Rough assessment of potential compensation and legal options
- Answers to questions you may have, like the ones listed above
- An overview of the next steps
If it seems like a good fit and we decide to take your case, we’ll assign one of our skilled personal injury attorneys to fight passionately for justice, leaving no legal stone unturned.
We have a contingency fee structure with no up-front costs and no fees unless we win — no hidden costs.
A consultation with a potential personal injury lawyer can be intimidating if you’ve never had one before, and you shouldn’t go in unprepared. You already know what questions to ask, but here are a few more tips to help you get ready and make the most of the meeting:
- Write down the essential details of your case so you don’t forget to mention anything the lawyer needs to make an accurate assessment.
- Prepare the questions you want to ask in writing and have a notebook handy to jot down key information.
- Let the lawyer know if you will need a translator. If the translator is appointed by the lawyer, anything you say in the consultation is still confidential – although you should still ask the lawyer to confirm this. However, if you bring a friend or relative to translate, they can be subpoenaed to testify against you. It’s generally advised not to bring someone you know to a legal consultation.
Tip: No Bull Law offers consultations in English and Spanish.
- Consultations can be conducted in person at a law office or telephonically, and can take up to an hour. Make sure you’re available at the agreed upon time and place so you arrive promptly, make a good impression, and avoid rushing the conversation.
- Bring any documents and evidence you think might be relevant — E.g., a form of identification, photos and videos, medical bills and records, proof of damages, etc. Be ready with copies or shareable digital versions of your documents so you can hand them over if necessary.
Make an Informed Choice for Your Injury Case
Before picking a personal injury attorney, make full use of free consultations to ensure a good fit. Ask the right questions to find an experienced personal injury attorney with the communication style and fee structure you need.
If you’re looking for legal representation for your personal injury case, No Bull Law could be the firm for you. Top-notch attorneys, compassion, and determination are at the core of our firm, and we take a no-BS approach to fighting for justice for our clients.
Contact us today to book your free case evaluation, and let us handle your case with the care you deserve!
