What Should You Ask During a Free Injury Consultation?

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, a free consultation with an injury lawyer in Long Island can give you a lot of clarity about where you stand and how to move forward. But for that consultation to be useful, you should know what kind of questions to ask so you come away with a clear picture of what comes next.

What to Ask Your Injury Lawyer in Long Island

Questions About the Lawyer’s Experience

Start by asking exactly how much hands-on experience the lawyer has with injury cases like yours. This matters because every case will turn on specific facts, and having a familiarity with the patterns that show up in different personal injury case types can make a real difference in how smoothly things move forward.

Follow up by asking for examples of past results they’ve gotten in similar situations, but don’t expect your lawyer to offer specific names or confidential details (just as you wouldn’t want your lawyer revealing your details to future potential clients). The answers you get here will tell you whether the lawyer knows the local courts, the insurance companies that operate in Nassau County, and the kinds of evidence that strengthen a claim of your type under New York law.

Questions About Who Will Handle Your Case

Ask who will actually work on your file from day to day. You deserve to know whether the person you’re meeting with will stay involved or if your case will get passed along. It’s fine if it is, and it’s common for lawyers to pass on some of the day-to-day work to other staff to free up their time for what they alone can do, but you need to know what to expect. Straightforward answers show that you can trust a law firm.

Questions About the Process and Timeline

Find out exactly what steps the lawyer will take after you sign on and ask for a realistic timeline so you know when to expect updates. Most cases move through an investigation phase, then your lawyer will send a demand letter, there will likely be negotiations, and, if necessary, you may move to filing suit.
Use this part of the meeting to also ask how the lawyer will keep you informed. Will you get regular calls or emails? Can you reach someone after hours if questions come up?

Questions About Settlement Versus Trial

It’s fair to ask whether the lawyer is willing to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses a fair offer. Most of these cases settle outside of court, but it’s still important that your lawyer have trial experience. Not only might any case potentially go to trial, but when your lawyer has experience in the courtroom, this gives you more leverage during negotiations.

Schedule your free consultation with Miller, Montiel & Strano in Garden City, NY today. One of our partners personally handles every case from the first call through the final resolution. We serve clients in Long Island and throughout Nassau County.

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