| Read Time: 3 minutes

Hiring an attorney can be quite stressful if you don’t know what questions to ask. You might be unsure of what is appropriate to ask. The truth of the matter is, you can pretty much ask an attorney anything. One thing you need to keep in mind from the very beginning is that honesty with your lawyer or potential lawyer is very important.

questions to ask your attorney

What types of cases have you handled before?

Don’t be afraid to ask the attorney if he or she has taken similar cases or not. Feeling comfortable and confident with your attorney’s abilities is important as well. However, keep in mind they may not be able to give you exact details. Also, every case is different.

Most people want a lawyer with lots of experience. Luckily, all of our attorneys here at Gerling have lots of successful cases under their belts. However, we understand that you may want to dig a little deeper. Feel free to ask your attorney about similar cases. All results will differ based on the facts and situation of your case, so keep that in mind.

How long will it take to resolve my case?

Timelines regarding personal injury cases are often unpredictable. Though, your attorney might be able to give you an estimate. Keep in mind it might take a while for things to process in your case. It takes time and detailed attention to settle a case.

Your medical records must be shared to the attorney and insurance companies, as well as accident reports or other documents containing proof or information regarding the accident. These files are looked over by everyone, including your attorney, to ensure accuracy and fairness.

The more records there are to look over, the longer it will take. However, this precision helps your attorney make the best decisions for you and your case.

Who will be working on my case?

Another of the important questions to ask your attorney is who will be working on your case. Often times our attorneys will consult each other on certain cases. For the most part, your attorney and their paralegal will be the ones handling your case. However, a lot of your communication will come through the paralegal.

A common misconception is that the attorneys pictured in commercials and billboards will be the one handling your case. Most law firms have multiple lawyers and paralegals. At Gerling, our owning and managing attorney is Gayle Gerling Pettinga. However, there are six practicing attorneys, each who have their own paralegal.


Gerling Law is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to providing aggressive legal representation to individuals and their families.  With over 50 years of experience, Gerling Law has helped thousands of people in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in a wide variety of personal injury and consumer protection cases, including trucking accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and social security disability. Gerling Law takes pride in the fact that we have never represented insurance companies, hospitals or large corporations and that we fight against powerful companies for our clients.

If you need an experienced, dedicated personal injury lawyer, Gerling Law is here to help.  You can always reach us at 888-GERLING (888-437-5464) or through our website at https://www.gerlinglaw.com/.

Author Photo

Gayle Gerling Pettinga

Born and raised in Evansville, Gayle is a respected, experienced lawyer and a valued community leader. She graduated near the top of her class at Indiana University’s prestigious Maurer School of Law. She’s practiced law with one of the largest firms in Indianapolis as well as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. And that means she knows how big law firms and big companies think and how they operate – and she will put that knowledge to work for you.

Gayle has received numerous awards and honors including Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Review Rated: AV®, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorneys in Indiana for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Service, and YWCA Evansville 100 Years, 100 Women Honoree, 2011.

Rate this Post

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
Loading...