If you are looking to hire a personal injury attorney, you will want to sit down for a consultation before hiring anyone. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the lawyer, discuss your case and decide whether to work together. There are many important questions to ask the attorney during this consultation. You likely already know to ask them about their fees, their experience, their education and what type of outcome they would expect or hope for with your case. But there are a few other important questions that you should also ask that you may be unaware of. Here are three important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer that you may not know to ask. 

1. Do You Have Time to Work On My Case Now?

One of the questions that you should ask during a consultation is whether the lawyer has time to work on your case now. In some cases, one attorney will meet with you for a consultation, but another with a lesser caseload may actually handle your case. Or in other cases, the attorney you meet with will handle your claim, but they may need to put off filing and handling it for a few months or until their current caseload dies down. Always ask this question, so you know who is handling your case and how quickly it will be handled. 

2. Are You Willing to Take the Case to Trial?

Another important question to ask is whether the lawyer is willing to take your case to trial. Some personal injury law firms advocate settling out of court. They want to avoid the expense and time that go into trials. In these instances, the attorneys may have it written into their contract that they will pass your case off to another law firm if the case goes to trial, or take a higher percentage of your award. Asking this question helps you understand what will happen if a settlement is not reached. 

3. What is the Protocol for Returning Calls or Emails?

Lastly, be sure to ask what the attorney's protocol is for returning your calls or emails. If you have a question or need help, they should be quick to help you. Ideally, you want a lawyer who will return your phone calls or emails within a day. When you ask this question, it gives you insight into how your questions will be handled. 

A consultation is your opportunity to get to know a personal injury lawyer and ensure that they are the best professional to handle your case. Knowing what questions to ask can help you make this determination. Asking the above questions, in addition to the standard ones that you likely already know to ask, will help you zero in on the best attorney for your personal injury case. For more information, contact a law office like Downard & Associates.