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Questions To Ask When Selecting An Attorney |
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If you or a member of your family has suffered a personal injury or wrongful death through someone else's negligence, the worst thing you could do is choose a personal injury trial lawyer blindly. Your case, your settlement, and possibly your entire future may rest on your selection of the best attorney. There are differences among trial lawyers and differences among law firms. Ask the right questions. And make an informed decision. Here are some helpful questions and what to watch for in the answers. |
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QUESTIONS TO ASK |
ANSWERS TO LOOK FOR |
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Do you specialize in personal injury cases? |
If the answer to this question is "no," you may be better served by continuing your selection process. Attorneys that are Board Certified have met specific requirements, passed a rigorous examination, and obtained recommendations from their peers. At Branton & Hall, Jim Branton & Jim Hall are both Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. So you know your case will receive the full attention it is due. |
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Are
you
Board
Certified
in
Personal
Injury
Trial
Law
by
the
Texas
Board
of
Legal
Specialization? |
Saying one specializes in personal injury trial law is one thing. Being "Board Certified" is entirely different. Achieving Board Certification means an attorney has achieved special recognition by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for substantial experience and specialized training in his chosen field—just as Jim Branton, Jim Hall and others in our San Antonio firm have done. To you, it means your case will receive expert attention. If your attorney isn't certified, ask him why. And keep in mind one important thing. It doesn't cost you any more to have a board certified trial attorney working on your case. |
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What staff support is available? |
Pursuing
a
complicated
personal
injury
case
to
a
successful
conclusion
often
takes
the
team
effort
of
many
individuals
with
various
specialties.
Your
case
might
require
a
workers'
compensation
paralegal,
a
trained
investigator
or
even
a
video
technician.
We're
not
saying
these
skills
can't
be
obtained
by
a
smaller
firm.
But
if
they're
not
already
in
place,
your
case
might
take
a
longer
period
of
time
to
process.
And
if
a
working
relationship
hasn't
already
been
established,
there's
always
room
for
miscommunication
and
error.
Which
could
turn
out
to
be
very
costly
in
the
long
run.
At
Branton
&
Hall,
our
firm
is
fully
staffed
with
capable
and
aggressive
support
staff.
To
others,
such
a
staff
may
be
a
burden.
To
us,
it
means
the
difference
between
winning
your
case,
or
settling
for
something
less. |
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Is
your
firm
financially
capable
of
developing
my
claim? |
A
substantial
support
staff
can
be
important
in
winning
your
case.
Solid
financial
standing
can
be
even
more
important.
There
are
a
lot
of
up-front
financial
costs
necessary
in
winning
a
case.
Costs
which
the
law
firm
has
to
advance.
These
include
hiring
expert
witnesses,
conducting
in-depth
investigations
or
videotaping
depositions.
It
is
not
unusual
for
even
a
relatively
minor
case
to
incur
several
thousand
dollars
in
expenses.
A
complex,
catastrophic
injury
case
can
cost
up
to
a
hundred
thousand
dollars
or
more.
Branton
&
Hall
is
fully
prepared
to
advance
any
costs
necessary
in
pursuing
your
case. |
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Is
your
firm
covered
by
professional
liability
insurance? |
Professional
liability
insurance
is
double-edged.
It
protects
more
than
just
an
attorney.
It
protects
you
in
case
an
error
is
made
that
damages
your
case.
Many
attorneys
have
never
been
covered
because
they
are
unwilling
to
make
the
necessary
financial
investment
for
the
protection
of
their
clients.
Branton
&
Hall
is
fully
covered.
So
you
are,
too. |
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Is
your
firm
equipped
with
the
most
modern
technology
to
assure
efficient
and
competent
handling
of
my
case? |
Today,
law
is
much,
much
more
than
a
cabinet
full
of
books.
It
is
computerized
legal
research,
instant
communication
and
meticulous
record
keeping.
The
law
firm
you
select
must
be
technologically
advanced
as
are
the
corporations
it
files
suit
against—just
as Branton
&
Hall
are.
If
not,
you
begin
your
suit—and
possibly
end
it—at
a
distinct
disadvantage. |
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What
is
the
reputation
of
your
firm
in
the
legal
community? |
This
is
a
hard
question
to
ask
directly.
Everyone,
in
every
occupation
likes
to
believe
they
are
well-respected.
And
most
everyone
is
blessed
with
a
degree
of
modesty.
This
is
a
question
that
is
best
answered
by
others
in
the
legal
community
that
work
with
or
have
been
served
by
them.
A
trial
lawyer
quickly
establishes
a
reputation
which
usually
can
be
verified
with
a
few
discreet
inquiries.
And
we
invite
you
to
do
the
same
concerning
ours. |
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Will
my
case
be
taken
to
trial? |
It's
a
simple
question
and
obvious
question,
but
difficult
to
answer
early
in
the
case.
What
is
more
important
is
whether
the
law
firm
is
willing
and
able
to
take
your
case
to
trial
if
it
is
necessary.
Many
lawyers
and
law
firms
lack
the
necessary
experience,
expertise
or
confidence
to
try
a
case
and
will
settle
your
case
for
less
than
it
is
worth
just
to
avoid
having
to
try
it.
The
insurance
attorneys
on
the
other
side
of
your
case
know
who
the
lawyers
are
that
will
be
reluctant
to
try
your
case.
Ask
the
trial lawyer
about
his
experience. Branton
&
Hall
invites
such
questions. |
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About
Contingent Fees
Unless
other arrangements are specifically made in advance, no fees, expenses
or costs are charged to clients unless Branton & Hall, P.C. makes a
recovery on their behalf. The
firm’s legal fees are computed as a percentage of the total recovery
obtained. If no recovery is
obtained, clients may be liable for any unpaid medical bills related to
the claim. |
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If
you
have
further
questions
you'd
like
to
ask
concerning
your
case
or
questions
you'd
like
to
ask
about
Branton
&
Hall,
please
give
us
a
call
at
22LEGAL
or
Email
us.
We
stand
ready
to
help
you
in
any
way
we can - even
if
it's
to
recommend
another
law
firm. |
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