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The simple truth is that all attorneys are not created equal — and your choice of an attorney can have a profound effect on your future — and your family’s future.

You need to get to know your lawyer and ask questions pertaining to legal advice, how they handle cases and more.

To help you out, we have written the Top Questions to Ask before Hiring a Lawyer for Your Injury Case. For additional help, we also published this article: How Hire a Winning Attorney.

These are the kinds of things that most people don’t think to ask before hiring a personal injury attorney.

And sadly, they regret that they didn’t ask these questions before placing their well-being in someone’s hands.

1. What kind of cases does this lawyer handle on a day-in, day-out basis?

Some lawyers are general practitioners who do a little of everything… including personal injury practice.

Their work may include occasional personal injury cases.

But, if they do not do this type of work every day, injured people who hire them may be at a disadvantage.

It takes a specialist in any legal field to really know that field backwards and forwards.

Your personal injury attorney needs to practice at the highest skill level possible, to get the best results for their client.

You would not hire a doctor who is a general practitioner to perform orthopedic surgery.

Why would you want to hire anyone other than a personal injury lawyer for your case… unless that is their area of expertise?

2. How long has the lawyer been working in the field of representing victims of accidents?

As a general rule, lawyers who specialize in personal injury lawsuits for injured persons charge the same fee no matter how long they have been practicing.

That means that for the same fee, you can get a lawyer with one or two years’ experience…

Or a lawyer with twenty years of experience.

As in any other field, experience makes a difference.

Do not be fooled by claims of lawyers who work at firms where they have 50 combined years of experience.

Because no one lawyer has been practicing personal injury for that long…

10 doctors with a year of experience each, don’t have 10 years of experience.

You want your lawyer to have significant experience practicing in this field.

And they should be happy to tell you about that experience if you ask.

3. Does the lawyer try lawsuits in court, or is every case he handles either settled out or referred to other lawyers?

This is an important question that many people never think to ask.

There is only one way to get top dollar for your case in a settlement.

That is, to show the insurance company that you are ready, willing, and able to try the case in a court of law.

If you hire a lawyer who always settles and never goes to court, be prepared.

You may take a substantial discount on your case.

That is because the insurance carriers and their defense lawyers know which lawyers try cases, and which do not.

You want your lawyer to be one who actually goes to court to try cases in front of judges and juries.

Real trial lawyers settle cases out of court too.

However, they also compile a track record of verdicts that becomes valuable leverage for all of their clients and in each case, settled or not.

A trial lawyer will tell you about his or her verdicts if you ask.

4. What is the lawyer’s track record of verdicts and settlements?

The longer the list of successful case outcomes, the better it is for you.

The insurance companies who defend personal injury cases know who the attorneys are in your area who actually go to court, and who do not.

Ask your lawyer about some of his accomplishments in the courtroom, and specifically, his jury verdicts.

5. Ask the lawyer who will actually handle your case

Even if you are impressed with the lawyer you first meet, you will need to ask this crucial question.

Find out if the lawyer plans to actually work on your case…

Or give it to another attorney to work on.

It is not unusual that you would be assigned a paralegal or other team members that work with your lawyer to keep your case moving efficiently.

However, some law firms introduce you to the name on their letterhead…

But promptly pass you onto an associate who may not have the skill and experience of the lawyer you want working on your case.