How to Choose the Right Car Accident Lawyer
Pursuing a claim for personal injuries caused by a car accident can be both complicated and costly. And to make matters worse, some lawyers may not be equipped to pursue all claims and compensation available to you.
What To Look For in a Car Accident Attorney
Hiring a personal injury attorney can be a complicated decision. Luckily, there are a few simple questions you can ask to get a better idea of your attorney’s qualifications
Experience
Choosing the right car accident lawyer often comes down to experience. The best motor vehicle accident lawyers have been practicing personal injury law for many years and have fought for their clients both in and out of court
Resources
A successful car accident attorney is one with the resources to do the job right. For the best chance of receiving a fair settlement, only consider law firms that are well-established, well-staffed, and well-financed. Investigating a car accident requires using forensic tools, conducting safety analyses, and developing a network of medical and economic experts to calculate your damages. Without the vast resources that this requires, your case will be under-prepared and you could lose out on certain compensation.
Secrets to Finding a Great Personal Injury Lawyer
Choose a Lawyer Who Does Personal Injury Law Exclusively
Personal injury law is intricate and involves many specialized rules and practices. Attorney’s who handle divorces, wills, trusts or bankruptcies can be Jack of all trades but Masters of none. They do not try cases and insurance companies lowball accordingly. You risk the quality of your representation if you choose an attorney that does not specialize in personal injury law.
Select an Attorney Who Has a History of Taking Cases to Trial if Necessary
Many if not most attorneys who advertise they handle personal injury cases have never seen the inside of a courtroom. They take your case, try to pressure you to settle for a pittance. Insurance companies are very aggressive. If they know your attorney doesn’t go to trial, that he’s afraid of the courtroom, they will take advantage of this and make ridiculous offers or make little or no effort to settle your case. They know your attorney is shooting blanks and that he will fold his hand and pressure you to fold too when he sees the insurer isn’t going to budge. If your attorney isn’t willing to put the case before a jury, the insurer knows it..and it will hurt you.
Select a Personal Injury Lawyer with a Proven History of High Verdicts and Settlements
If you have a large case with serious injuries, it’s important to know that your attorney can deliver a large verdict or settlement. Ask your attorney how many million-dollar verdicts or settlements he has had. Is he a member of the Million Dollar Advocates? The Million Dollar Advocates is a renowned organization of attorneys who have settled or tried cases worth a million dollars or more. Not every case is worth a million dollars, but if you have that kind of a case, make sure you have an attorney who can deliver the goods.
Hire an Attorney Who’s an Active Member of State and National Trial Lawyer Groups
Serious personal injury attorneys collaborate with and learn from other excellent personal injury attorneys. In today’s very difficult environment where insurers are not hesitant to use dirty tricks and underhanded methods to make injured people look bad, it’s critical to be up to date and to know what the insurers are up to.
Find an Attorney Who Has Sufficient Resources to Take Your Case Seriously
When you hire an attorney, look around. Does he or she look like they are successful? Does their office look like they are doing well? Does the attorney have a line of credit or personal assets necessary to properly prepare your case? Serious personal injury cases are expensive to prepare. Many experts are necessary to properly prepare a case. Often many doctors must have their depositions taken and must later appear in Court. Other experts such as economists, biomechanics, accident reconstructionists, vocational rehabilitation specialists and life care planners must be hired. The expense in a single case can often exceed $100,000+ if properly prepared. Make sure your attorney has enough money to play with the big boys.
How to Find the Right Car Accident Attorney for You
You already know this is an important decision. In fact, finding the right lawyer from a good shortlist of car accident attorneys may be one of the most important decisions of your entire car accident case.
You should do careful research and select an attorney who has years of proven experience handling personal injury cases such as yours. We want to offer you some helpful tips to find that perfect attorney to get you compensated for your car accident injuries.
Before you look up car accident attorneys, know what you’re looking for
Before you even start doing searches it will pay off to have a good idea of the qualities and terms you are looking for in a car accident attorney. This may differ a little according to your case, your personality, your area of the country, even.
These questions will give you a framework for a list you can check off:
Evaluate the complete team of staff, not just the partners or people who make up the public face of the law firm. Keep in mind as you research and interact with the firm that it may not be the same person you speak with initially who will be your primary contact.
Where to find experienced car accident attorneys
Ok, now you should have an idea of the sorts of things you’ll be keeping in mind as you look at various law firms and attorneys.
How Do I Choose the Right Auto Accident Lawyer?
Choosing the right auto accident lawyer isn’t rocket science. All it takes is a little bit of patience, research and a general idea of what to be on the lookout for. After a car accident, you’re not in the best frame of mind for gathering evidence and representing yourself to the insurance companies. It’s best to find an auto accident attorney who puts you first, and let them do the hard work while you recover. We make it easy here at Kuzyk Law, as we have been in this business since 1971 representing our clients’ best interests in car accident cases of all kinds.
Understand the Fee Arrangement
Before hiring a lawyer, it’s imperative that you truly understand the fee arrangement and what is expected of you in terms of payment. Many lawyers, like those at Kuzyk Law, don’t bill you unless or until your case is won or settled. But you should still ask what percentage will go the lawyer. The industry standard is between one-third and 40 percent of the total award. Ask for a breakdown of fees, hourly rates, etc. Be aware this is just an estimate. Car accident lawsuits can stretch for months or even years. Don’t sign anything until you’ve asked about the attorney fees and understand them completely.
Ask Yourself Questions Afterwards
You may do all the research possible on a particular attorney but you won’t really know who’s best for you until you meet with them. After discussing the case with your Lancaster auto accident lawyer
Make up a List of Questions
Not sure what to ask in your initial meeting? Have a list of questions ready for when you meet. You’re understandably in a vulnerable place right now and it’s common to forget basic questions you may want to ask
Of course, no matter how good your lawyer is, these questions can’t always be answered with any degree of certainty. However, a good Lancaster auto accident lawyer should be able to give you an educated guess based on their knowledge, experience, skill and nature of similar cases
TIPS TO SELECT THE BEST CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY FOR YOUR CASE
Questions to Ask Potential Candidates Before Choosing Your Car Accident Representation
Although it may sound surprising coming from a lawyer, not every car accident requires hiring an attorney. In fact, in some cases, it may not be worth your time or money. A simple fender-bender, for example, can most likely be handled without too much resistance from the insurance company.
Asking Questions Will Help Secure the Right Representation
Ideally, to secure a strong injury claim, you should contact an attorney within a day or two of your accident. This way, you can get started on the case right away while it is fresh in your mind. Furthermore, you must remember that you need time to focus on your recovery while still gathering evidence of liability, police reports, contact information from any witnesses, and photos of property damage and any visible injuries. However, once you secure your attorney, he can gather the necessary evidence while working to ensure that all of your current and future financial, emotional, and physical losses are being thoughtfully considered. That leaves you with only one task: getting better from your ordeal.
Time isn’t your friend in these situations, so knowing what to look for in an attorney can be crucial. Of course you will want to make sure you hire someone who has specific expertise representing clients who have suffered injuries similar to yours. Of course you need to find someone you feel you can trust. But there are many other specific details you need to know when considering whom to hire.
To set up a free consultation with the highly experienced and dependable attorney Steve Lee, simply fill out the contact form on this page. We will get back to you as soon as possible with an appointment time to speak with him directly and have all of your questions and concerns addressed
