Best Tips On How To Find A Good Car Accident Attorney
According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, 20-50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries from road accidents each year. Being in a car crash is a very stressful experience and maybe even more stressful if you have to deal with legal processes after the accident.
In some cases, especially if you’re not at fault, it is a good idea to hire a lawyer. Finding a competent, experienced car accident attorney may be the only thing you need to get a fair settlement.
It might be quite challenging to get a good attorney if you do not know what to look for. Here are some tips that will help you hire a lawyer that you can trust.
- LOOK AT THEIR EXPERIENCE
Lawyers have different areas of specialization. No matter how good they are, a criminal lawyer may not be good at handling car accident-related cases, and vice versa. It would help if you found a lawyer who is experienced and successful in dealing with accident-related cases.
If you are dealing with a serious case, such as death or disability, hiring an experienced lawyer increases your chances of getting proper compensation for your injuries or the loss of your loved one.
When it comes to experience, you don’t have to go to big firms with splashy ads. You should focus on firms with lawyers who have excellent reputations and who specialize in car accidents.
- REPUTATION
Good lawyers work under reputable firms. Avoid hiring a lawyer that you saw on Craigslist. Law firms hold their attorneys accountable and provide them with all the resources they need to succeed in their cases.
Hire a car accident lawyer from a reputable firm with a history of success. Such lawyers work hard to ensure that they maintain the excellent reputation of their firms.
In today’s digital age, it is easier to identify a good firm because of online reviews. Take some time and check out what other people are saying about the lawyer or law firm that you are considering to hire.
The more positive reviews, the better. Remember, you want a lawyer who has a positive reputation and is known to diligently handle car accident cases. Such lawyers or firms put their clients first and do their best to ensure that you have good compensation.
You can also ask your friend, family, coworkers, or even your family lawyer to refer you to a reputable accident injury attorney that they know.
- LOOK FOR A LAWYER WHO COMMUNICATES
It is very frustrating to have a relationship with someone who does not call or answer your messages. You do not want this type of relationship with your lawyer.
If, for example, the accident has left you confined to the hospital bed, it will be impossible for you to accompany your lawyer to settlement meetings with the other party or visit their offices.
A good lawyer will ensure that you understand what they can do to help your case and provide you with all the information you need. If your lawyer cannot answer all your questions during your first meeting, hides information about fees, or takes a lot of time to respond to your emails or return calls, they may not be the best to handle your case.
Check out how they handle you when you first meet them and if they take time to ensure that you understand their process and what is required of you. If the lawyer is unable to communicate clearly with you at first, do not expect the trend to change.
- HIRE A LAWYER WHO IS COURT READY
Some personal injury lawyers have never seen the inside of a courtroom, no matter how experienced they are. This is because 95 percent of personal injury cases settle before trial. With such a high settlement rate, do not be surprised if a personal injury lawyer with around ten years of experience has never gone to trial.
Insurance companies are quite aggressive. They will want to settle the case quickly if they know they have a lot to lose should the case go to trial.
If they know that your lawyer does not go to trial or is afraid of the courtroom, they will easily take advantage of that and make a very cheap deal.
Look for a lawyer ready to go all-in and face the judge and the jury to ensure that you get your rightful compensation.
Do background checks online
The first thing to do when you come across a potential car accident lawyer that you might here is looking them up on local state bar associations. If he or she doesn’t appear on the website, then it’s a high indicator that they haven’t attained the required academic qualifications.
If they have a Facebook page, find out what current or previous clients have posted. Doing this enables you to learn more about the attorney’s personal and professional traits.
Visit their website
You can tell whether a business is legit or a scam by spending a few seconds on their website. The text and articles posted on genuine websites are presented in polished grammar and formatted professionally. Every link appearing on the page is active and directs you to the correct landing page.
On the other hand, dubious websites have unusually bright colors. You’ll also notice a lot of pop-up advertisements that are irrelevant to the legal services you’re looking for. When you read the articles, you’ll notice glaring grammatical errors that make you question the firm’s seriousness.
Comfort with the lawyer
This is an important factor that you must consider when searching for the best car accident attorney for you. As to win the case you will have to share sensitive information with the lawyer you are thinking to hire. This information can be really sensitive and if you are not able to have a comfortable relationship with the lawyer or you don’t trust them then you will not be able to explain and tell those to the layer. Thus the best car accident attorney you are thinking to hire must be trustworthy too, as it enables good communication between you and the lawyer. This is very important.
Nice Track Record
It is important to select an attorney who has a successful record of resolving the type of case you have. .If you are in a truck accident, you should consider selecting an attorney who has settled or won verdicts in accidents involving tractor-trailers in the past. However, please know that no attorney should promise you a result. Past successes are no guarantees of future results. Be wary of anyone making guarantees or promises of specific amounts.
Look for Specialties in Car Accidents
You wouldn’t go to an ear, nose and throat doctor if you have a broken leg. That would be absurd. So, why would you use a divorce or estate lawyer when you have suffered a car accident injury? Specialty does matter. Experienced auto accident lawyers spend much of their time learning the ropes of the industry and are therefore better equipped to handle a case involving injury due to motor vehicle crashes. By narrowing down your choices to a specialized car accident attorney, you will be better able to focus on competent lawyers.
Trust Your Gut
Pay attention to that feeling you get when meeting for your initial consultation. Reading about impressive credentials is certainly what you want to see; however, all the credentials in the world mean nothing if you don’t feel a connection between yourself and the lawyer. A skilled and aggressive car accident attorney is of vital importance, but on the other side of the coin, remember you will have to work with them for months or even years. That’s why you need to feel an easy rapport with them. So, during your initial meeting, if anything feels off, such as an arrogant personality or the feeling of being talked down to, you may want to go elsewhere. Make sure the lawyer you go with returns calls quickly and is attentive to your needs. In the end, you want to select someone who is professional yet personable, and compassionate yet aggressive.
Not everyone has a claim.
If you think you have a valid reason for filing a personal injury claim, you should talk to an auto accident attorney. Not every car accident that results in an injury can be the basis for a successful lawsuit. Even if no one has been hurt, there may be a case for a lawsuit if blame and negligence can be determined and proved. The best way to tell if your case rises to the standard is to talk to a personal injury lawyer. They can evaluate the facts of your case and determine if you should file a lawsuit. If you are on the fence, just call a lawyer and get their opinion. Most law firms will provide free consultations, so you can see what your chances in court will be.
Talk to several law firms.
This is a very personal decision you are making. You have to be able to really communicate with the person who will argue your case on your behalf. That means that you need to be completely open and honest with this person, and that may be very uncomfortable. Make sure you can be as open as possible about the pain and suffering caused by your accident. This is not the time to put on a brave face or deny how badly you may feel.
