When you’re involved in an auto accident, hiring a Tampa personal injury attorney is among the first things you’ll need to do. However, it’s important to ensure you hire the best attorney for your type of case. Among personal injury lawyers, there are those with varying levels of experience and those that specialize in specific types of cases. As you conduct the initial consultation with each attorney, you’ll have an opportunity to interview the attorney to determine if he or she is qualified to represent you. Knowing the right questions to ask can help you.

What Kind of Personal Injury Experience Do You Have?

This is an opportunity for the attorney to sell himself to you just as you would do in a job interview in your own life. Since you were involved in a car accident, it won’t do you much good to hire a lawyer who solely handles medical malpractice cases. Don’t let the lawyer persuade you to hire him even though you feel he’s a wrong fit. If he doesn’t have the experience you need, thank him for his time and end the consultation.

How Many of Your Auto Accident Cases Had Favorable Outcomes for Your Clients?

An ethical attorney won’t give you details about his past cases, but he can generalize the information in response to your question. This will be enough to tell you how many of the lawyer’s past clients had favorable outcomes. Getting a sense of the attorney’s track record through this type of question will give you a stronger impression of how he will perform for you. If you don’t think he has performed well for past clients, it may be best to consider another attorney.

Can I Read Previous Client Testimonials?

If your Tampa personal injury attorney maintains a website, chances are good that he or she will have posted favorable client testimonials on the site. While you’re online, take a look at sites like the Better Business Bureau and Yelp. In looking up the attorney on these sites, you can read through a wider range of client reviews. Reading both good and bad reviews will help you obtain a better understanding of the attorney’s methods. While some bad reviews are to be expected, an overwhelming number of negative reviews may suggest that the attorney or firm isn’t the best to handle your case.

Have You Ever Been Sued or Suspended from Practicing?

While every attorney is going to have their share of bad experiences, having been sued for legal malpractice is a red flag. Just as you would think twice about seeing a doctor who was the target of a medical malpractice claim, you may be better off to avoid hiring an attorney who was sued by a previous client. Additionally, an attorney who had his license suspended in the past may indicate a problem with ethics. It’s better to avoid these kinds of lawyers altogether.

These questions can help you choose a better personal injury attorney, but feel free to add questions of your own. It may also be important to discuss the attorney’s fee schedule and his strategy for representing you. During your initial consultation, try to find out as much as you can about the attorney. Gathering more information will help you make a better decision as to which attorney will offer you the best possible representation