A consultation is not just about you determining if an attorney is a good fit for you, it is also about an attorney determining if you have a case that they want to explore. When you meet with a personal injury attorney, the personal injury attorney is also going to use some criteria to determine if they want to take your personal injury case.
#1 Who Was at Fault
When you meet with a personal injury attorney, they are going to listen closely to your story about what happened that lead to your accident. They may even ask you detailed questions about what happened. The attorney will ask questions so they can determine, based on the information that you provided, who was at fault for the accident. In most states, the other party needs to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident in order for a personal injury lawsuit to be successful. If an attorney feels that you bear more responsibility for the accident, they may not be interested in taking your case.
#2 The Seriousness of Your Injuries
Second, the personal injury attorney is going to want to get a gauge of how serious your physical injuries are. Emotional injuries are serious, and can be compensated as well; however, they are much harder to prove than physical injuries.
Most attorneys are going to look for injuries that are worth something. A little scratch on your arm that just needed some disinfectant and a band-aid are not going to interest many attorneys. A broken arm that required rehabilitation is much more appealing.
#3 Economic Factors
Finally, each attorney will consider the economic factors of taking on your case. The economic factors that matter could vary greatly. For example, if the attorney is struggling to bring in cases, and thinks your case looks really straightforward and easy but has a low pay out for them, they may be willing to take on your case, whereas a very busy attorney with a full docket may not see enough value in your case.
Just because one car accident attorney doesn't see the value in your case doesn't mean that it is not worthwhile. If the first attorney you consult with is not interested in your case, don't give up. Contact a few other attorneys and see if any of them are interested in your case. Who was at fault, the seriousness of your injuries, and an attorney's workload and desired payout can impact whether or not an attorney takes your case.
