Questions to ask in the first call
- Who will handle my case day to day? Get a name. Ask whether that person is a lawyer.
- How many open cases does that lawyer carry? A lawyer with several hundred files cannot know yours well.
- Will my case stay with your firm? Some firms sign cases and refer them to other lawyers. You are entitled to know who is involved.
- How much of your practice is Michigan no-fault? The 2019 reform, the fee schedule and the one-year-back rule trip up lawyers who handle them occasionally.
- Have you tried an auto case to verdict? Insurers settle differently with lawyers who will go to trial.
- How will you keep me informed? Ask how often you will hear from the firm and how fast calls are returned.
- What does it cost, including costs if we lose? Get the fee percentage and the cost terms in writing.
Warning signs
- A promise about what your case is worth before anyone reads your medical records.
- Pressure to sign on the first call, or a representative who shows up uninvited at the hospital or your home.
- Being steered to particular doctors you did not choose.
- No clear answer about who your lawyer is.
What we will tell you
Ask us any of these questions. We will answer them on the first call, in plain language, and put the fee terms in writing before you decide.
Sources: MRPC 1.5(e); MRPC 7.3.
Questions people ask us
Should I hire the firm with the most billboards?
Advertising volume tells you about a firm’s marketing budget. Ask instead who will actually handle your case, how many cases that lawyer carries, and how often you will hear from them.
Can I change lawyers if I am unhappy?
Yes. You can change lawyers at any time. The first lawyer may be entitled to part of the eventual fee for work already done, which is usually resolved between the firms without any extra cost to you.
Is it a problem if my lawyer sends my case to another firm?
Michigan allows lawyers in different firms to share a fee if you are told about every lawyer involved and do not object, and the total fee is reasonable. You should know from the start who will work on your case.