When you’ve been in a car accident, often the last thing on your mind is finding a lawyer to help you fight your case. However, after you’ve been checked out by a medical professional and realize there’s more to be done, you will need to start thinking about seeking legal representation.
Are you unsure what you need to look for in a car accident lawyer to ensure you get as close to the desired outcome as you’re looking for? Below we’ve taken the time to provide you with a guide that details what you need to look for when searching for a lawyer.
The better your lawyer, the better off you’ll be as you continue to heal from your accident.
Table of Contents
Ask For Recommendations
To this day, the best way to find products or services is to ask the people you trust the most. These people typically will be close family members and friends mainly because they can provide in-depth insight into the recommendations they’re offering you.
Ensure the person you ask for a recommendation has dealt with a car accident themselves. The reason you want to ask someone that’s been in a car accident before is that they can provide a deeper insight into what it was like working with the lawyer.
They can tell you things like how prompt they were in replying to different forms of correspondence. They can also give you details about the lawyer’s experience in representing car accident cases.
A lawyer’s experience in this area will give you more confidence in them doing their job. It will also help you not worry that you’re wasting money by assisting them and can help you decide which lawyer to choose sooner rather than later.
Another question to ask is what the retainer for using the lawyer is. If working with a lawyer is outside your budget, you’re going to want to continue searching for one that fits your budget while also meeting your needs for a lawyer.
Look Into Their Experience
Most lawyers will provide proof of the experience they have in this specific legal field. If you’re dealing with a series of car wreck lawyers, ask about their experience before signing any contracts. Again, this will help you grow your confidence in them handling your case.
This isn’t to say that lawyers with a lower number of years in the field aren’t able to handle your case. But depending on the accident’s severity, you will want someone who knows what they’re doing.
They’ll understand the ins and outs of the legal system when it pertains to car accident cases and, at this point, could represent you in their sleep. Another reason to check the lawyer’s experience level is that this might not be an area of law in which they specialize.
You want someone who regularly tries these types of cases and can give you better details about what to expect as your case continues moving forward. Also, experienced lawyers won’t jump on the first settlement that comes your way.
They will work hard to get you what you deserve, even if that means denying several settlement offers and taking things to court instead.
Check Their Record
Most lawyers’ track records can tell you if they have any red flags in their past. You need to know if the lawyer you’re hiring has any of these because these problems could keep them from currently practicing law.
You don’t want to pay someone that legally can’t practice until their license has been reinstated. If you can’t find information about their track record on their website, you can always check the national lawyer board for the information you seek.
Another track record you’re going to want to pay attention to is whether the lawyer achieves positive outcomes for their clients in these cases. If they have a knack for choosing the first settlement or losing the case, they aren’t the ideal lawyer for you to choose.
Yes, they can get you a settlement, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get you the amount of money you deserve or need to cover your medical bills. Again, if you can’t find this information on their website, it might mean the lawyer is hiding something they don’t want people to know.
This should be alarming to you and cause you to rethink working with them now or in the future.
Check Local Listings
If you’re still not having luck finding a lawyer to represent you, the next best thing is to begin researching on your own. When doing this, you might consult local listings or research lawyers that handle car accident cases online.
Once you visit their websites, you’ll find more information you need to determine if you want to sit down and consult with them about your case. Most of the information you will need should be found on their website.
If you decide to call and schedule a consultation, the front desk customer service agent will usually let you know if they can handle your case. This ensures you don’t continue wasting time speaking with them if they have nothing to offer you.
Remember, this is something nice and considerate that most law firms do to save your time and effort, but it’s not going to happen with all of them. Ensure you ask the right questions ahead of time before deciding what lawyer you’re going to want to work with.
Also, never feel as if you’re asking too many questions because you’re trying to find the right fit for your needs.
Finding a Car Accident Lawyer Before Hiring Them
When you’re in a car accident that leaves you without transportation and hurt, you need help getting compensation. The compensation can be used for several reasons, including covering missed work and paying for medical bills accumulated when you’re out of work.
The lawyer you hire should be someone that specializes in car accidents and doesn’t have a poor track record for winning these types of cases. Remember to reread this post to ensure you’re on the right track to finding the car accident lawyer that will fit your needs.
