Right after an unfortunate car accident, or a slip & fall accident, you may find yourself dealing with injuries, medical bills, loss of wages, and other losses. If the accident was a result of someone’s neglect, you may have the scope to file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington. The statute of limitations in Washington State allows a period of three years to file such lawsuits, counting from the date of the accident, so you don’t have a lot of time. Also, critical evidence and information may disappear in no time. Finding the right Seattle personal injury lawyer can make or break your case, and in this post, we are sharing some critical aspects that matter for choosing one. 

  1. Get recommendations. You need to find personal injury lawyers that people known to you have worked with. Recommendations can be really handy in this regard, and you can also consider checking online. Top law firms have their own websites, and you can always check for independent reviews of attorneys posted on Google. 
  2. Experience. The scope of personal injury law is huge. For instance, the complications involved in a truck accident can be very different than that of medical malpractice. You need an attorney who has worked on cases similar to yours. Don’t shy away from asking about references and top settlements. 
  3. Ask a few questions. When you meet a personal injury lawyer for the first time, you need to ask at least a few basic questions – 
  1. What is my claim worth?
  2. Have you handled cases similar to mine? 
  3. What were the outcomes of such cases?
  4. What percentage of your practice is dedicated to this branch of personal injury law?
  5. Will you work on the case personally?
  6. Will you handle all the paperwork related to the case?
  7. What percentage of your cases are settled outside of court?
  8. Do you have experience with trials?

Discuss the financials

Most personal injury lawsuits in Washington state are settled outside of court, but if you decide to go to trial after failed negotiations, financials will matter. Depending on the facts of the case, personal injury lawyers may work on a contingency basis, where they get paid if and when they win. The amount is usually 25-40% of the overall settlement amount. However, do ask about other expenses that may matter for the case. 

Meet an attorney in person as soon as you feel better.