According to the United States Department of Transportation, the U.S. economy sustains a loss of about $250 billion as a result of auto accidents. This is a huge number, even for the world's largest and most robust economy. It's no wonder insurance companies use every trick in the book to pay as little personal injury compensation as possible.

However, the good news is that you can hire a personal injury attorney to get you the best possible compensation. But before you hire one, consider asking them the following questions, just to be sure you are dealing with a competent injury attorney.

1. What Are Your Rates?

While it's important to ask this question, it's not the most crucial, since an attorney works on the basis of a contingency fee. You only pay them after you have been compensated for the injuries. Nonetheless, they take a fee of between 25% and 40%, according to the American Bar Association. This is critical information, since the upper rate may not sit well with some people. Nevertheless, in agreeing to pay a lower fee, consider the fact that one attorney may be more qualified for the job than most, hence deserving a higher fee.

2. Will I Be Charged for the Costs of the Case if I Lose?

In some cases, you will be charged for case-related costs besides the contingency fee. It's important to be clear with your personal injury attorney as to who will bear these costs, which are also referred to as “out-of-pocket” expenses, should the suit flunk.

3. Do You Have Experience Trying Personal Injury Cases Like Mine?

Just because a lawyer deals with personal injury suits doesn't mean they have handled cases similar to yours. Ask them about their experience and what the results were. For instance, if you are suing for slip-and-fall compensation, an injury attorney specializing in car accident injuries may not be the best for you. On the other hand, you are safer hiring a lawyer with experience litigating car accident personal injury cases as opposed to hiring one who has only dealt with workers' compensation cases.

4. How Long Will My Case Take?

Your goal when asking this question is to establish the approximate duration your case will take. Several factors could affect the time it takes to resolve a case like yours. Nonetheless, if the personal injury attorney has the requisite experience, they should at least give you a rough estimate. You want to be certain they are committed to seeing your case through within the shortest time possible.

Before you hire a personal injury attorney, make sure you are comfortable with their experience handling cases like yours. Establishing how much they charge is also important, as well as who will pay for the costs of the case should it fall through. If you need a trusted injury attorney, turn to Mike Markey, Attorney At Law.