Have you been hurt in a car accident? Are you considering a lawsuit to get compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses? Nothing will make more of a difference in the outcome of that lawsuit than your choice of lawyer. Here is a process to consider for choosing your car accident lawyer.
Ask for Recommendations
Start looking for a car accident lawyer by asking for recommendations from friends, family, and others. Car accidents and car accident claims are common enough that you likely know someone who has been involved in an accident and pursued compensation with a lawsuit. When you get a recommendation from someone, try to get specifics about their claim and their lawyer.
Did the lawyer show or utilize any specific knowledge, such as expertise in a texting and driving case or a case involving a defective vehicle? Did the lawyer help them deal with expenses by reducing the amounts owed to doctors, or recommending ways to maximize their return on a settlement? How was the lawyer to work with?
In addition to friends and family, don’t forget to ask professionals for references. If you have a family lawyer, talk to them about who they might recommend. If you are undergoing physical therapy, talk to your therapist. Chances are, they are helping other accident victims, who, if they have a good one, might have mentioned their lawyer.
Do Your Research
Next, go online to start researching your potential lawyer. You should research both the lawyers that have been recommended and others. Start with the lawyer’s website, and look at what is on the site. Find out first if they seem to actually handle the type of case you have. Next, read a little bit of what is said to see if their legal philosophy seems to reflect what you want in a lawyer. Then check out their list of verdicts and settlements. This can’t promise that you will get the type of results they have had in the past, but you want to work with a lawyer who has a proven track record of results.
Look at the credentials of the lawyer as well. See which lawyers have been recognized by their peers and independent ratings agencies as being leaders in their profession. This is where AccidentAttorneys.org can help—all our attorneys have been recognized in this way.
Next, try to find independent reviews of the lawyer. Don’t be persuaded by a single good or bad review, try to gauge the overall tone of reviews. And don’t just pay attention to the number of stars, look in the reviews for details about how a lawyer handles a case.
Interview Possible Car Accident Lawyers
Once you have found a list of 3-5 lawyers that you think might be good to work with, schedule appointments with them. Talk to them about your case, and try to confirm things you have read on their website or in reviews. You want to make sure the person you’re considering really is the person described on the website. If there was anything particularly compelling or troubling that you read about in reviews, bring it up and see what the lawyer has to say.
Don’t be surprised if you get the feeling that the lawyer is also interviewing you. A good lawyer doesn’t have to take just any case that comes in off the street, he can pick and choose the cases that are most likely to be successful, and part of that is making sure you will be a good client.
Make Your Decision—Or Don’t!
Once you have interviewed several lawyers, it’s time to choose one. Choose a lawyer that gives you full confidence your case will be handled professionally and capably. You have to choose a lawyer you can work with, as well. Your case may take months or even years to resolve, so you have to feel that you can work with this person.
Don’t feel completely confident about any of the lawyers you interviewed? Start again. Your car accident claim is too important to be handled by a lawyer that doesn’t give you full confidence. The only caveat here is: you need to be aware of the statute of limitations for your case. A case typically must be filed two years from the date of the accident, or you will not be able to get compensation.
Your first step in choosing your car accident lawyer is to review the lawyers listed here – all of whom have the expertise to handle your case.
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