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Questions To Ask Your Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer

For this article, I am not going to list obvious questions like “how much will your services cost,” “how long will my case take,” and so on – the focus here is to help you gather vital information from your personal injury lawyer before you go ahead with your case.

You need to be specific about the details you want (use the questions listed as examples), understand the situation well, and then base your situational judgment on the response of your attorney. Personal injury cases can be tough but knowing what you need to know can make a huge difference – it will give you some calmness and a sense of direction.

Let’s get started:

#1) What is my position in this case, how much should I expect to get from the lawsuit?

Right off the bat, you need some honesty (and personal attention) from your attorney – what do they think your position is in your case, promising or not?

There is no single answer to this because it all depends on whether the case has a solid foundation or not, but assuming that it does, a lawyer would be pleased to point out the abundance of evidence, the laws that work in your favor, the importance of your timely action, the relevance of the past behavior or track record of the liable party, and so on.

Conversely, if your case is not promising enough, demand complete honesty from your lawyer.

#2) What can I do on my part to make my personal injury/medical malpractice case stronger?

You’ll have to avoid delays here; gather all the relevant information and evidence in time, without wasting any because there is none to be wasted.

The evidence includes:

  • Firsthand evidence such as photos, videos, audio recording, etc.
  • Information about the liable party
  • Police report for the accident (in case of a car accident)
  • Contact information of all eye-witnesses
  • Previous medical records (before the suspected medical malpractice happened)
  • Images and medical records detailing the state and normalcy of your well-being beforehand
  • Documents detailing your incident-related injury, illness, etc.
  • Notes detailing the symptoms and severity of your brain damage and other injuries
  • Images (scans, etc.) supporting the said notes
  • Medical bills
  • Records of other expenses (i.e. property damage, lost wages, loss of income, etc.)
  • Keep a journal of your suffering, i.e. physical pain, mental anguish, etc.

With this set of documented evidence by your side, you’ll be in a much better fighting position and will be able to demand your rights without fear (the same also applies to a wrongful death claim, with minor differences).

Be sure to share all the details with your lawyer and proceed after proper legal consultation; not to worry about the fees, most lawyers work on a contingency basis.

#3) How best to approach a birth injury liability case?

The birth of a child is perhaps one of the most memorable events in the lives of parents. Our lives revolve around our children, the sun rises and sets for us with them. However, learning that your baby suffered a brain injury before, during, or after the birthing process can come as a shock to you.

Here’s what you need to do:

If you are suspicious that negligence on part of the medical staff who handled your pregnancy could’ve caused this problem, then you should waste no time preparing for a personal injury lawsuit.

The legal tussle that awaits will not be easy but you’ll pull through if you gather your resources effectively and act in time (as discussed in the previous section, i.e. gathering all the relevant evidence, information, and documents).

Next, as hurtful and distressing as it may be, you’ll have to explore the depth of your child’s condition. By knowing the intensity of the damage, you’ll be in a much better position to demand maximum compensation. Depending on the extent of the brain injury and the time, effort, and money needed to make things right, the settlement will vary.

#4) What are the most common causes of delays in personal injury settlements?

Here are some of the most common reasons for conventional delays (unavoidable) in personal injury claims:

Firstly, you’ll have to go through with the medical treatment, this is going to take some time (for a permanent injury, neck injuries, brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, etc.) but it is important to get patched up before you can file for financial compensation. Plus you should also know the full extent of the damages and the medical expenses.

Next, your evidence-gathering mission will take up some time.

Then you’ll have to consult with a lawyer about the situation at hand and how to best deal with the troubles of your case, i.e. preparing witnesses, gathering experts, calculating the economic and non-economic damages, and so on.

Lastly, there will be a thorough investigation of your claims from both ends and that will too require some time.

These are all valid reasons for the delay in your case, and your settlement is likely to be delayed if you get a lawyer involved. But the extra wait will be worth it because otherwise, your settlement sum will only be nominal at best – insurance companies like to cash in on people’s desperation!

#5) Will you bring expert witnesses on board to help my case?

You’ll also have to inquire whether or not the legal team will get expert witnesses on board to solidify your claim (or you can simply ask them how they are going to strengthen your narrative). Expert witnesses are people who specialize in a certain field and are thus qualified enough to offer their valuable input to tip the scale in your favor.

  • For birth injury cases, these expert witnesses will be obstetricians or neurologists – anyone whose word will count in this matter.
  • If you’ve been in a car accident, then you’ll need accident scene reconstruction experts, accident injury experts, etc.
  • For medical malpractice, you’ll have to contact expert medical professionals in the relevant field.

Bottom Line

Only competent lawyers can help you navigate through the troubled waters that lie ahead. Your quest for a fair financial settlement to cover the damages you and your child sustained, will be a hard one. However, if you proceed according to the legal counsel of a professional personal injury attorney, you’ll stand a much greater chance of winning your legal claim.

You’ll have to do some homework before reaching out to a personal injury law firm for their services. No two lawyers are the same. You’ll have to ascertain that the law group you’ve selected has broad experience in this area of the law and can help you win maximum compensation. You’ll have to understand that the personal injury and medical malpractice laws are very broad territories.

Thus, only lawyers will relevant experience and a history of satisfying clients will be able to help you win your claim. You should never delay calling a competent personal injury lawyer with relevant expertise during such troublesome times because they will be your greatest assets in securing a fair settlement, plus, most lawyers, like myself, work on a contingency fee basis, so no worries about paying your attorney.

When Insurance Companies Know Your Reputation, it Shows in Your Recoveries. 

Over $30 million dollars
in verdicts and settlements recovered for my clients

 

$10.9 Million
in Total Settlements in 2020

 

$1.2 Million
in Referral Fees in 2020

 

2018
Birmingham Business Journal Women to Watch

 

2011-2020
Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Stars
When Insurance Companies Know Your Reputation, it Shows in Your Recoveries.
Over $30 million dollars
in verdicts and settlements recovered for my clients
$10.9 Million
in Total Settlements in 2020
$1.2 Million
in Referral Fees in 2020
2018
Birmingham Business Journal Women to Watch
2011-2020
Alabama Super Lawyers Rising Stars