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.
5 Best Tips on How to Find a Good Car Accident Attorney
1. Look At Their Experience in car accident cases
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.
2. Check the Firm 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 hiring.
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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Check Out Their Fees
Law firms have different policies when it comes to charging for their legal services. You should ensure that you fully understand their payment policy before hiring them.
When you hire a car accident attorney, they may only ask to be paid if the case is successful. They will take some percentage of the settlement package. Such lawyers will try their best to get the best settlement because it will also determine their pay.
Avoid lawyers who ask for full payment upfront.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney That Will Help You Win
If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, it is only fair that you get compensation for your injuries and the inconveniences caused. To do this, you will need a good car accident attorney who plays hardball with insurance companies and is ready to fight for you to ensure that you are well-compensated.
Here at the LaBovick Law Group, we are confident that you will find all these five things in our lawyers. If you are looking for a car accident lawyer, contact us today, and we’ll assist you right away.
