John C. Giles Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

The relationship between a Mesa personal injury attorney and their client is one based on mutual trust. The client must feel confident that their attorney has their best interests at heart and wants them to receive the most comprehensive settlement possible. In order to ensure that you are choosing the right attorney to represent your auto accident lawsuit in Mesa, you will want to do some research and ask questions.

Get a Referral

Chances are pretty good that you have a friend, relative, or neighbor who has experience with a personal injury attorney. Ask them about their experience and whether they were fully satisfied with the outcome of their case. If so, request a referral to the lawyer.

Ask Questions

Prepare some questions to ask during your initial consultation with the attorney.

¿ How long has the practice been in existence?
¿ How many personal injury trials has the lawyer handled and won?
¿ What percentage of the practice focuses on the personal injury area relevant to your case?
¿ Does the lawyer usually represent the victims of car accidents in Mesa or the defendants in personal injury lawsuits?
¿ Can the lawyer outline the lawsuit process clearly?
¿ What is the expected timeline from filing to resolution of a case like yours?
¿ Does the lawyer charge for his/her services regardless of outcome or does he/she only make money if you do?
¿ If the lawyer only takes a cut of a successful settlement (contingency fee), what is that percentage?
¿ Will the lawyer handle your case personally or is it likely to be passed to another attorney at the firm? If the latter is the case, can you meet them?
¿ Does the lawyer think you’ll have any problems winning your case, and what are your options if he/she does?

Additional Research on Personal Injury

You should look up whether the attorney belongs to any of the personal injury trial lawyers' associations, such as the American Association for Justice ("AAJ") or your state's trial lawyer association. You can also contact your state bar association to find out if the law firm is considered to be in good standing.  Contact information can be found on the Web or in your local telephone book. 

Before making a final decision, ask to be provided with a copy of the lawyer's fee agreement and have it explained to you clearly. Asking questions and doing a little research are the best ways to find out if you have chosen the right personal injury lawyer to represent your interests.

Article presented as a courtesy of the personal injury law office of John C. Giles, serving Mesa, AZ and the surrounding area.

238 W. Second Street,
Mesa, Arizona 85201