Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

A vast amount of Georgians will require the aid of an attorney at some point in their lives. Determining what type of attorney to hire based on the legal problems at hand, as well as whether you actually need a lawyer, are complicated aspects of hiring an attorney. Many times when the moment comes to determine which law firm to hire, people have experienced so much that they become overwhelmed. Determining not only the type of attorney to hire, but which practice from a long list of similar firms can become difficult and confusing. How are you ever going to select the right one for your individual needs? At Jones & Swanson, we want to assist you in determining those answers.

Before retaining an attorney, there are a few important questions to ask and information you should be aware of. We have listed the questions below; with answers you would receive from Jones & Swanson for each.

• Is the attorney a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia? Has that lawyer been disciplined by that State Bar Association? If so, what was the reasoning? The State Bar of Georgia is an organization which attorneys are required to be a member of in order to practice law in Georgia. To determine whether an attorney is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, one can visit www.gabar.org and search that attorney’s name.

Answer: Both Andrew W. Jones and Matthew Chase Swanson are active members in good standing with the Georgia State Bar.

• How long has the law firm been in existence and how long have the attorneys at that firm been practicing law? Just as when you hire other service professionals, experience is exceedingly important. Potential clients often believe that trials are the best method for gaining compensation for their injuries. This is not always the case. Settlements are much quicker and are many times provide better outcomes for clients than a lengthy jury trial. Attorneys that have experience with settlements are better prepared to handle your potential claim. If your case has the potential for substantial litigation, you should consider only lawyers that have practiced in that area of law for ten years or more. Others who have practiced less time may be excellent lawyers, but a case with the potential for significant litigation should have a supervising attorney on the case with more than ten years’ experience.

Answer: Attorney Andrew W. Jones has been practicing personal injury law for over 18 years. Prior to opening the firm in 2006, he was a founding partner or Cooper, Jones & Cooper, another Marietta injury firm. Andrew and Chase work together on all cases within the firm so their combined experience and points of view allow for the best possible representation of each client.

• Does the attorney and law firm have high ratings from well-respected organizations? Companies such as AVVO, Martindale-Hubbell, and Super Lawyers each have rating systems in place that are helpful when determining which attorney to select. These systems take into consideration the opinions of other attorneys and previous clients, rating attorneys based on their experience, legal knowledge, past results, and more.

Answer: Attorney Andrew W. Jones has a 10/10: Superb rating by AVVO, a maximum AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale Hubbell, was selected to Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite this year, and has been voted a Georgia “Super Lawyer” for the past four years.

• Does the firm offer free consultations? All personal injury law firms should offer free consultations.

Answer: Yes, Jones & Swanson offers free consultations.

• Does the attorney or law firm have reviews and references from previous satisfied clients? Usually attorneys that have represented clients successfully in the past will have positive testimonials from those clients for your review.

Answer: Jones & Swanson, as well as Attorneys Andrew Jones and Chase Swanson, have numerous client testimonials that can be found on multiple websites throughout the Internet. These reviews include written testimonies from clients themselves while in-office, as well as reviews left on websites such as Google, Kudzu, AVVO, YP.com, and others.

• What is the firm’s fee structure? Do the attorneys work on a flat rate, hourly fee, or contingency basis? Lawyers that work on a contingency basis are more likely to take cases that they believe they can win. This is due to the fact that these attorneys do not receive payment until a case is settled. These attorneys will work harder on your case and will be honest about whether you actually have a potential claim to begin with.

Answer: The attorneys at Jones & Swanson work on a contingency fee basis, which means we represent clients without upfront costs and our fee is simply a percentage of the recovery.

Searching for an attorney for a personal injury case in Marietta? Selecting the right Georgia personal injury attorney for your needs may seem challenging, but it truly comes down to selecting the attorney you feel most comfortable with. After asking your potential lawyers the appropriate questions, the next step is to meet with them in person. Once you feel comfortable with the firm you hire, your hardships will lessen considerable. It is important to hire an attorney that is passionate about their work and will personalize their representation to fit your needs. No matter who you select as your personal injury attorney, there’s no guarantee you will win compensation. However, once you retain an experienced injury lawyer, your chances of winning compensation increase significantly. If you or someone you know has been injured and you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (770) 427-5498.