If you suffer an injury as a result of the negligence of  another person and have sustained damages you will need to hire a Rhode Island personal injury lawyer. But in any given city, there are probably over 15 pages of personal injury attorney listings in the phone book and endless listings on the internet.  How do you pick the right one? What do you look for? What questions should you ask?

Here are 10 things you should know before hiring your injury lawyer...

1) The sooner you hire your Rhode Island lawyer the better. Begin looking for your personal injury lawyer within a week or two after your accident. If you're not physically capable you should have a friend or loved-one start looking. The sooner you start building your case the better.  An attorney will locate, document and preserve necessary evidence to support your case and will identify responsible parties and insurance companies. 

2) Hire a Rhode Island personal injury attorney that specializes in your specific type of injuries. Do your homework before signing the retainer agreement. Visit the firm's website and read up on it's history and lawyer's biographical information. Ask the lawyer for some references and ask how much experience they have in handling cases with similar injuries and with insurance companies.

3) Hire a Rhode Island personal injury attorney with experience in insurance law and in dealing with insurance companies.  The majority of injury cases involved insurance and are settled outside of the courtroom.  This is a direct result of having an attorney who is experienced in dealing with insurance companies, who knows how insurance companies evaluate claims and who knows how insurance companies settle claims.

4) Have a face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer. Your Rhode Island  personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor during this difficult time. You must feel comfortable and trust your lawyer. The only way you'll get a feel for the lawyer is by having a sit-down to discuss your case. Any good personal injury lawyer will give you an initial consultation free of charge.

5) Hire a lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer won't get paid unless you get paid. He will take his fee out of the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your lawyer to take about 33% of your final settlement.  Make sure you clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.

6) Make sure the attorney is easily accessible and returns calls and inquiries in a timely manner.  It is important to maintain regular contact with your attorney as your treatment and case progresses.  Does the attorney provide his/her cell phone number and e-mail address? 

7) Hire a lawyer not a paralegal.  Beware of law firms that pass your case off to paralegals.  Your first consultation may be with the attorney, but thereafter, all of your contact is with a paralegal and your case is handled by a paralegal with generally less experience and negotiation skill than an experienced attorney. 

8) Always be completely open and honest when discussing your case with a lawyer. Tell the lawyer as much as you can about what happened. Try to remember every detail. Any documentation and pictures you have of your injuries and treatment will be a big help when evaluating your case.

9) NEVER give a recorded statement to a representative from any insurance company until you've consulted a lawyer. When the rep. asks for one simply say, "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time." A recorded statement can be used as evidence and if you're not prepared you might overlook important details. Anything you miss (or misrepresent) can be used against you in settlement negotiations and in the trial.

10) Hire an attorney who you feel comfortable with.  Your Rhode Island attorney will become a daily part of your life during this difficult time and you want to make sure you have an attorney that you are comfortable speaking with and dealing with on a regular basis.