Please note: Triumph Attorney Connect is an attorney matching and referral service, not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different; talk with a licensed Nevada attorney about your specific case. No outcome is guaranteed.
Start with fit, not advertising
A big advertising budget doesn't necessarily mean a lawyer is the best match for you. What matters more is whether the attorney regularly handles cases like yours. A firm that mostly handles minor car crashes may approach a serious trucking case or a casino injury very differently than a lawyer who focuses on those cases. Look for:
- Relevant focus. Personal injury should be a core part of their practice, ideally with experience in your type of incident.
- Nevada license in good standing. You can look up any Nevada lawyer in the State Bar of Nevada's online "Find a Lawyer" directory, which shows membership status and public discipline.
- Willingness to go to court. Most cases settle, but insurers pay attention to whether a lawyer is prepared to file suit and try a case if needed.
- Communication. You should know who will handle your case day to day and how you'll get updates.
10 questions to ask in a free consultation
- How many cases like mine have you handled, and how recently?
- Who will actually work on my case: you, another attorney, or a case manager?
- How often will I get updates, and what's the best way to reach you?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses you see in my case so far?
- What is your contingency fee percentage, and does it change if the case goes to litigation or trial?
- How are case costs handled? Who advances them, and are they taken out before or after the fee is calculated?
- Will I owe anything if there's no recovery?
- How do you handle medical bills and liens while the case is pending?
- What timeline should I realistically expect?
- Can I see your written fee agreement before I decide?
A good lawyer will answer these questions clearly and won't pressure you to sign on the spot.
Contingency fees explained
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee. That generally means you pay no upfront fee, and the lawyer's fee is a percentage of any money recovered. If there's no recovery, there's usually no attorney's fee, though you should confirm how costs are handled in that case.
Under the Nevada Rules of Professional Conduct, a contingency fee agreement must be in writing, signed by the client, and must explain how the fee is calculated, including the percentage at different stages, which expenses will be deducted, and whether they're deducted before or after the fee is calculated. Read it carefully, and ask about anything unclear.
Fees versus costs. The fee is what the lawyer earns. Costs are case expenses such as filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses, and depositions. In a case that goes to trial, costs can be significant. Two agreements with the same fee percentage can produce different net results depending on how costs are handled.
A simple example (illustration only): If a case settles for $60,000 under a one-third fee with $3,000 in costs, the net to the client differs depending on whether costs are taken out before or after the fee is calculated, and medical liens may also be paid from the settlement. Ask the attorney to walk you through an example using their actual agreement.
Red flags to watch for
- Promises or guarantees about how much your case is worth or how it will turn out
- Pressure to sign immediately, before you've read the agreement
- Someone who contacts you uninvited at the hospital or right after a crash asking you to hire a particular lawyer
- Vague answers about who will handle your case or how costs work
- Not returning calls during the consultation stage, which rarely improves later
Can you switch lawyers?
Generally, yes. Clients usually have the right to change attorneys. When that happens, the first lawyer may be entitled to part of the fee for work already done, which is typically worked out between the lawyers. If you're unhappy, it's worth having a frank conversation first.
How Triumph Attorney Connect can help
We built Triumph Attorney Connect to take some of the guesswork out of this process. You answer a few questions about what happened, and we match you with a participating Nevada-licensed attorney who handles that type of case. The evaluation is free, and you decide whether to hire them. You're always free to interview other lawyers too. We're a matching service, not a law firm, and we don't guarantee any attorney or outcome. You can also contact the State Bar of Nevada's own Lawyer Referral Service.
Before you call anyone, check your timing with our Nevada statute of limitations guide.