When you are in the middle of a car accident situation, or you accidentally injured someone because of their negligence, the first thing that you must do is to call your defense lawyer. If you have a defense lawyer, you won’t have to worry about dealing with the situation alone because a defense lawyer will help you throughout the legal process.
A defense lawyer is someone that will defend you in times like this, and they will help you with all the necessary actions to let your side of the story be heard in court and also helps you settle the required measures for you.
You can hire these defense lawyers at any defense law firm that you can find in your area. You can also reach out to your friends and your network to connect you with an experienced and reliable defense lawyer.
If you already hired one, the first thing that you need to do is to interact with your lawyer and communicate the actions that must be done. But before doing that, you need to ask them a few questions to help solve your case. If you are not sure how to start a conversation with your lawyer, you can use this article as a guide. Here are some 5 simple questions that you can ask your defense lawyer about your case.
1. How much is your fee?
The first thing that you should ask your defense lawyer is his/her fee or how your lawyer charges for your specific case. You must understand the legal fee arrangement before the lawyer starts to handle your case. Ask about your payment methods and inclusions because other lawyers charge you for every legal advice, per court trial appearance, per hour, or per set. Clarify it first before hiring your defense lawyer.
2. Have you experienced dealing with cases similar to mine?
It is essential to ask your lawyer if he/she knows how to handle your case or much better if your lawyer already had a previous client with the same case as yours. This question will determine your confidence in letting your lawyer handle your case. If your lawyer says yes, then your case is safeguarded and insured in your favor. If your lawyer says that it is his/her first time with that specific case, then you must request the law firm for a new lawyer. That way, you won’t have to worry, and you won’t get stressed about the case because you know that your lawyer will handle your case well.
3. What should I do next?
Ask your defense lawyer what you should do next. The lawyer will let you determine your obligations and will direct you on what you should do. Ask your lawyer about his/her methods in gaining information or how you should tell him/her the minor details of your case. That way, your lawyer would know your story that can be used as evidence to defend your stand based on that.
4. Are there any decisions that you will make which need my consent?
There are substantive decisions that your lawyer decides, which will need your approval, and you have the right to be informed with every decision that your lawyer makes. But there are some decisions that you will let your lawyer handle, such as procedural decisions, which the litigation process requires. Although you have little knowledge in court, make sure to keep constant communication with your lawyer so you would stay informed.
5. Do you have the schedules for my hearings in court and can I ask how long would this case take?
You have to ask your lawyer about the schedules of your court hearings to ask them about the updates of your case. Litigation is a lengthy process, so you should get any updates or information about how your case is going. You should also ask when your lawsuit will be solved, especially when their service fee is on an hourly basis. You might get short on your budget long before your case will be solved.
