After an accident, an injured victim may feel helpless and burdened by all the medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses. They may feel stressed and hire an attorney that may not be the right fit for them. This can have a significant impact on the outcome of their personal injury case.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have extensive experience handling car crashes, truck collisions, construction accidents, and many other types of personal injury cases in Houston, Texas.
They can help the injured victim by assessing the facts surrounding their case and protecting their rights.
What Should I Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston, Texas?
Before hiring a personal injury attorney, the affected party must do their due diligence, as the lawyer one chooses can significantly impact the outcome of their case.
There are certain questions that they must ask from the personal injury lawyer, some of which include the following:
How Much Is the Attorney's Fee?
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which is an arrangement where they provide legal assistance for a certain percentage of the settlement amount if they win the case. They do not charge any fees unless there is a compensation recovery.
The percentage a personal injury attorney may charge their client can vary from one lawyer to another. It can range anywhere between 25% and 40% of the total compensation award.
When hiring a personal injury attorney, it is important to prioritize the lawyer's qualifications and track record rather than how much they charge.
An attorney who takes 25% of the compensation award may not be the best option in some cases, especially if they don't have sufficient practical experience.
Has the Attorney Handled Similar Cases in the Past?
When handling a personal injury claim or lawsuit, an attorney's experience plays a major role in the case's outcome. A car accident lawyer who has previously handled similar cases may have the necessary skills to tackle a motor vehicle case than a slip-and-fall attorney.
An injured victim should discuss their case with a personal injury lawyer, ask them whether they've handled similar claims or lawsuits in the past, and how their experience can help improve their chances of recovering compensation.
Can the Attorney Give Time and Attention to the Case?
Although large personal injury law firms may have the firepower to handle claims and lawsuits, they may lack in providing personalized attention, which is essential for injured victims.
Some attorneys keep on taking new clients while the other cases remain pending. This can be stressful for the claimants or plaintiffs who are looking to have their legal troubles resolved as soon as possible.
It's crucial for an injured party to ask the attorney whether they can devote the time and attention to their personal injury case and when they will file their claim or lawsuit.
How Long Will It Take to Resolve This Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Although there are many factors that can influence the time it takes to resolve a personal injury lawsuit, an experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to make an estimate by assessing the facts surrounding the case.
Personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to two years or even more. The affected parties must know how long it takes to resolve a claim or lawsuit similar to theirs so that they can plan accordingly.
An attorney with many personal injury cases on their desk may take a lot of time to resolve a suit. That doesn't mean that the injured victims should start looking for lawyers without any caseload, as that could also be a red flag.
Will the Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Most personal injury cases are settled outside of the courts. However, around 3% of them end up before a judge. After assessing the facts surrounding a case, an experienced lawyer will be able to tell whether or not the lawsuit deserves to go to trial.
Going to trial can be an expensive and time-consuming legal process. However, some injured victims or families may be looking for justice and closure, or they may not be getting a fair settlement from the insurance companies. In such situations, the lawyer may recommend taking the case to court.
That said, an attorney should always prepare the case as if they were going to trial. If the settlement negotiations do not reach a favorable outcome, the lawyer should be ready to go to war and take the lawsuit to court.
Another important thing to inquire from an attorney regarding their trial experience is their success rate. A lawyer may have extensive experience in handling claims, but if they've never been in a court before, they may not be the right legal professional for the lawsuit.
The court environment is different from the outside world, where best personal injury attorneys in Houston TX can negotiate a settlement and resolve a personal injury case. When a lawsuit goes to trial, the power to control the outcome of the suit goes into the hands of the judge or jury.
A personal injury lawyer without any trial experience may be unable to present the arguments well in court or convey their client's story in a compelling way.
It's crucial for all the affected parties who are looking for legal assistance to ask the attorneys about their success rate in court trials. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can advise on questions like when do you need a lawyer for a personal injury claim?
How Much Is This Personal Injury Case Worth?
The value of a personal injury case depends on several factors, including the evidence available, the severity of injuries sustained, the nature of the injuries, and insurance policy limits, among many others. An experienced attorney will be able to make a rough estimate based on these factors and prior case verdicts.
However, the affected party must do their own research, as some personal injury attorneys may be prone to giving out ridiculous estimates to lure new clients.
Who Will Be Handling the Personal Injury Case?
Attorneys at large personal injury firms keep taking clients and passing the cases to their juniors. Although this is a great way to grow the business, it may have an impact on the clients.
It's important for the affected party to ask the senior personal injury lawyer whether they'll be handling their case. If they're going to hand over the claim or lawsuit to less experienced associates, the injured victim should ask whether an experienced attorney will be supervising them.
There is nothing worse than signing an agreement with a potential personal injury lawyer only to find later on that the junior attorneys or associates will be handling the case.
What Will Be the Role of the Affected Party?
The affected parties must focus on their medical treatment and follow their doctor's recommendation. This is critical in determining the outcome of their personal injury case.
However, some individuals like to get involved in the legal system by attending depositions and meetings. Although this is not a bad thing, some attorneys may not allow that.
It's crucial for the affected parties and their personal injury lawyers to be on the same page. This can not only affect the victim's perception of the legal representation they're getting but also have an impact on how the attorney handles the case.
Is It Possible to Speak to a Previous Client?
Most personal injury lawyers have perfectly curated websites with testimonials from their past clients. However, it's essential to understand that these are often heavily edited and may not be an accurate representation of the services provided.
The affected parties should ask the potential personal injury lawyers whether or not they can receive any references. Any attorney that fails to provide details of their past client to potential clients is a red flag.
Past client experiences can let potential clients know how the attorney handled the case, whether they showed empathy with the victim, and whether they had pure intentions to help them. Having the right attorney with whom injured victims can share their troubles can make the entire legal process easier.
Why Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Is the Right Choice for Injured Victims in Houston, Texas
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have extensive experience handling all types of personal injury cases, including traumatic brain injuries, car accidents, wrongful death, and bus accidents, among many others.
They boast a positive track record and have recovered millions of dollars for their clients. Some of the cases they've won recently include the following:
Anthony Lynn Bearden Jr. v. Floyd Daniel Young - $25 million (traumatic brain injury)
Confidential settlement - $15 million (wrongful death)
Charlsye E. Williams et al v. Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority - $12 million (transit bus accident)
Confidential settlement - $5 million (medical malpractice)
Confidential settlement - $4 million (catastrophic injury)
Although the value of settlements for past clients shouldn't be a determinant of the outcome of a potential client's case, it does give the affected parties the confidence that they're working with skilled personal injury attorneys with successful trial experience.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys also do not charge any upfront legal fees. Personal injury victims in Houston, Texas, can work with their legal team on a contingency fee basis, allowing them to get aggressive legal representation without worrying about finances.
One of the major perks of working with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is that their legal team has lawyers who have previously worked with insurers. They know the insider secrets and can use them against the insurance company, ensuring that their client receives maximum compensation. They can share tips for how to be a good client during your personal injury case.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Are Ready to Stand with Injured Victims in Houston, Texas
Those who have suffered injuries in Houston, Texas, due to another's negligence or intentional misconduct should call to schedule a free consultation with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to discuss their case, as they may be eligible for compensation.