Did you suffer injuries in an accident because of someone’s negligence? Were you abused in a nursing home? Did you trip and fall in a mall? If you have suffered a personal injury because of the other party’s neglect or disregard for safety, you can file a lawsuit seeking compensation. Georgia is a fault state. If you can prove that the other party owed a duty of care and was negligent, you can recover the settlement to make up for your losses. For that, you may want to consult an Atlanta personal injury attorney, and in this post, we are sharing some basic things to discuss in the first meeting.
- The actual worth of your claim. Do you have a claim in the first place? What can you expect in compensation? What damages can you recover? These are some questions that an attorney will answer for you. Make sure that you are honest in your version of whatever happened or may have caused the accident. Your lawyer’s assessment of the case is dependent on that.
- The overall timeline of the case. Georgia follows the modified comparative negligence rule when it comes to car accidents. If yours was an auto accident, where you had a share of fault, ask your lawyer how things may shape up. For other personal injury cases, various factors will matter for the eventual outcome. Your lawyer should be able to give a fair overview of what to expect from the case.
- Costs of the case. Most personal injury lawyers in Georgia work on a contingency basis. This means that they will only charge a fee if they win. However, there could be other costs related to investigation and litigation, which must be paid. Your attorney can advance these expenses, which can be adjusted with the settlement. Ask the lawyer what to expect from your case in terms of financials.
- Their experience. The overall work profile, experience and expertise of a personal injury attorney will matter over everything else. Make sure that you hire an attorney, who is open about discussing the work and sharing references. Ask about their top cases and settlements, to know the scope of their expertise.
Finally, ask the lawyer how they plan to deal with the insurance company. A good lawyer will ensure that you get all the updates on the case on a regular basis, besides offering a way of access as needed.