You are pursuing a personal injury claim and wondering whether to hire a newbie lawyer or an experienced one, whether to look a little more to find the right one, or to go ahead with the first one. Anything can work if you know what to look for and what important questions to ask from your personal injury lawyer.

Hire someone who has the expertise and knowledge to handle such lawsuits. Go ahead with a seasoned associate or a firm like RSH Legal – Iowa Personal Injury Lawyers to guide you.

Ask the following questions before hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer:

• Experience: First, you need to know whether they have handled personal injury lawsuits and similar cases beforehand. This will help you determine if they understand the legal proceedings involved in your lawsuit. Ask about their win and success rate and the areas they preferably focus on. Can they help with criminal cases or medical malpractice claims? Do they work independently, with a firm, or are they associated with an associate? If they represent a legal firm, ask how their organization decides who is qualified and who will handle your case.
• Fee for Legal Service: Ask about their fee structure, whether they charge a flat fee, work on a contingency basis, or charge an hourly rate for their legal services. Also, make sure to obtain all the information involving money. Find out whether there are any upfront costs or hidden charges, such as court fees, witness charges, or additional costs. Usually, in most cases, the firm covers these expenses, but often a lawyer who freelances or works on a contract basis does charge for these things. If the lawyer opts for a contingency fee model, ask about the percentage they will take from the settlement. Also, ask who will pay the filing fees. Thoroughly understand the financial arrangement and out-of-pocket expenses required for the legal proceedings.
• Strengths & weaknesses: Give your lawyer an overview of your case and ask about the points that could reduce your chances of reimbursement or payout amount. You also need to know the positive aspects of your case, the witnesses, and the crucial evidence that can strengthen it. Confirm with your lawyer whether the facts will play out as you expect. Ask about the real expectations from the claim, including all the uncertainties involved. For instance, if you have hard evidence like photographs, surveillance footage, and other biological evidence that can link back to the accident, it will benefit your case. Meanwhile, if you somehow contributed to the accident, your claim could be denied, or you might face the context of comparative negligence. 
• Who will handle the case? Clarify whether the attorney you are speaking to will represent you throughout the case or if your case will be passed to another lawyer or paralegal. Law firms often assign cases to junior attorneys or associates after the discovery phase, so it’s important to know whether your lawyer will stay engaged until your case is resolved.
• Timeline of the case: The exact timeline and duration your lawsuit will take to get resolved and settled cannot be determined by anyone, but an estimation can be made. Ask your lawyer how long the process will take and what potential pitfalls could extend that timeline.
• Conflicts of interest: Ask if any conflicts could prevent them from representing your case before the jury. If your lawyer has multiple clients and their loyalty could shift or be divided in the presence of opposing counsel or prosecution, they should inform you directly.