In the United States, there are approximately six million car accidents each year. Sadly, 6% of these accidents result in fatalities.
Often, lawyers must get involved to help victims of crashes defend their innocence in these accidents.
The benefits of a car accident lawyer include representing you to help win your case in court.
Continue reading to learn helpful tips for choosing the best car accident lawyer.
1. Ask About the Car Accident Lawyer’s Experience
The first step to finding a car accident lawyer is looking into each firm’s experience. A lawyer’s expertise is critical to consider for many reasons.
The number of cases they’ve taken should help you understand their overall experience. Usually, lawyers with more cases have more experience. You should also ask about the lawyer’s trial experience should you need to take the case to trial.
The more experience a lawyer has, the better. This is because they usually understand most cases and how to work with their clients. You’ll also need to hire a lawyer who has handled similar cases to yours.
Inexperienced lawyers may not be as well versed in the courtroom. There’s also a chance these lawyers won’t fully understand your case. Don’t forget to always ask each lawyer about their overall success rate.
2. Ask for References
After you’ve looked up online reviews, you can look into each lawyer deeper. You’ll want to find as much information as possible about your top-rated options.
Contact each firm and ask for a list of references. This list will have the contact information of a few of their previous clients. If a firm fails to give you this information, this may be a red flag, and you may want to choose another option.
Use this information to get in touch with these clients for more details. Once you’ve contacted them, ask about their overall opinion of the lawyer. You can also take this time to ask questions about the firm and how it conducts business.
3. Check Out Reviews for Car Accident Lawyers
Finding the best car accident lawyer will take some time. You’ll need to search for lawyers that service your area to ensure your case is worked on quickly. Hiring a lawyer from out of town may delay the process overall.
Once you find lawyers in your area, you’ll need to begin researching each of them. Search each firm for online reviews to get a better understanding of them. These reviews will give you an overall idea of how these lawyers handle cases.
You’ll also need to take each comment and rating into consideration. Choose a few of the top-rated options to move forward with. These options will ensure you’re working with a reputable law firm.
4. Ask About the Services Offered
You must always see what services are offered when looking for a car accident attorney. Some lawyers only handle specific cases and always have the right to refuse your business. Therefore, it’s your job to find out which lawyers are willing to work on your particular situation.
Always reach out to the lawyers you’re interested in for a consultation. Here, you’ll need to lay out your side of the story and explain the accident altogether. Always bring any documentation related to your case for the lawyer to review.
The lawyer will consider every aspect of the car accident and decide based on this. They will then make the decision on taking the case or not.
5. Ask About the Car Accident Lawyer’s Availability
Throughout the year, thousands of cases are taken to court. However, there are not always enough lawyers to handle each case, depending on your location. The lack of lawyers can mean your case may be unrepresented, or you may have to fight it yourself.
An attorney’s availability will play a significant role in your case. Therefore, you must try to hire a vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Doing so will help ensure you have a lawyer to represent you on your court date.
Remember, lawyers will also need time to review your case altogether. They will have to research and fact-check each aspect of the accident. These attorneys will also have to strategize to develop a winning argument.
A lawyer’s availability also includes their responsiveness, meaning you should consider how easily they are to reach. Keep in mind that different lawyers prefer different communication styles.
You’ll need to find a lawyer that communicates the way you prefer. For example, some attorneys communicate via text, phone, email, etc.
6. Ask About the Legal Fees
You’ll also need to create a budget before hiring a lawyer. Keep in mind there are many different fees associated with hiring an attorney. Therefore, you must set aside enough money regardless of the outcome.
Inquire about the attorney’s contingency fees or hourly rate. Contingency fees are collected from a percentage of the money you receive from winning your case. This payment is beneficial since there are no up-front costs and no payment necessary should you lose your case.
You can request a consultation from each lawyer you’re interested in. Many of these firms offer free consultations that you may book. You can interview each lawyer during these appointments to see if they are a good match to narrow your options further.
You’ll need to discuss pricing during your consultation with your potential lawyer. Some law firms charge for consultations, so you must also consider these charges.
Most lawyers have set pricing for similar cases of car accidents. Prices may change depending on any special needs of your case. All of this will be discussed until an approximate price is reached.
7. Check Out the Lawyer’s Reputation Online
A lawyer’s reputation is a massive thing to consider before hiring. A lawyer with a poor reputation may not be a good choice as it could lessen your chances of winning the case.
Research each lawyer’s wins and losses to get an overall idea of their reputation. Remember, a win or loss doesn’t necessarily mean the case was fairly decided. However, it will give you a general idea of how the lawyer handles these situations.
Also, consider the lawyer’s reputation among the residents in your town. Many poor opinions of the attorney may mean they are not reputable. Research online to ensure there has been no professional misconduct regarding the laser.
Tips for Choosing the Best Car Accident Lawyer
Choosing the best car accident lawyer can be difficult with the many options to pick from. Hopefully, these tips will help narrow down your options and ensure you work with a reputable attorney.
Don’t forget to contact us today if you’ve been in a car accident and need representation in court. We will take the best care of you here at South Bay Accident Lawyers!
