In case you’ve been involved into a car accident, suffered bodily harm, property damage, and your mind is reeling with unanswered questions like “what to do now” — it’s probably time to call a personal injury lawyer.
However, there is still a question: what should you ask attorneys before hiring them to represent you? In this guide, we’ll explain just that, so keep on reading.
But first things first. As you may already know, it’s crucial to choose right accident injury attorney to represent you in your accident case and to ensure that they will work for your interests.
You need to find a lawyer who won’t be interested in quick and easy settlements. Instead, you need to find a legal professional who will work to your advantage in an effort to maximize your settlement.
Find Qualified Accident Lawyer
Even though an accident lawyer who is not qualified to represent you may charge the same fee as one who is, you have to be able to differ one from another, as self-serving lawyers settle cases quickly and cheaply. Since lawyers can earn a lot of money with little effort, they tend to follow this strategy, but it may not always be in your best interest.
You should ask the attorney if he or she is ready to go to trial if a settlement cannot be reached through negotiation. Insurance companies tend to settle for lower amounts if they know that this particular lawyer or law firm won’t take things to court.
Check Lawyers’ Areas of Expertise
Ask accident injury attorneys about their areas of expertise when you speak with them. If the attorneys’ main areas of practice are family law or corporate law, they likely lack the necessary expertise to handle your personal injury case. Your accident attorneys should specialize in the area of personal injury. If you want good legal representation, you need a lawyer who has dealt with cases like yours before. Be sure that insurance companies hire attorneys with specialized knowledge in personal injury claims.
It is also critical to hire accident lawyers who are familiar with the legal landscape in your geographic area. Make sure they have a good track record of winning cases against insurance companies and receiving fair settlements.
Ask the Firm about Approach to Communication
Attorneys who specialize in personal injury matters have staff members, paralegals, and other professionals working for them in the office. Different people handle various aspects of the case as the personal injury lawyer you hire probably handles a number of cases in addition to yours. Specify who will be your contact person. While you don’t want to bother your legal team five times a day, it’s fair for you to ask questions and call for updates.
As mentioned earlier, most lawsuits are settled out of court through negotiations between the parties, so you may wonder if you will be able to get a jury trial if you bring a claim against the other party in your accident. If your case goes to trial, you should make sure your accident injury lawyers have the required experience.
As Long as You Pay the Money, You Are the Boss
You hire an accident attorney to represent you against the insurance company of the other driver in the event of an accident, and you need them to handle the complex legal procedures.
You need to make sure that your personal injury lawyer will examine the statements of witnesses, the police report, and medical records as well as will take the time to understand how you interpret the events and make sure you receive the right medical treatment.
Ask questions to verify their involvement level meets your requirements.
First Thing Lawyer Should Do
Although you were present at the accident and witnessed it, you realize that the evidence clearly shows the other party was at fault. It is natural that not everyone will share the same perspective. It is important that your accident injury lawyer looks at your case objectively and tells you what it has both good and bad points.
A good accident lawyer should be able to tell you how likely you are to win compensation, whether or not you should pursue your case, and how to do so.
Attorney Associated Costs
The costs associated with hiring accident injury attorneys should be clear to you. The majority of accident injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. As a result, you only have to pay their fees if they are successful in getting compensation for the harm caused by the accident.
Ask your accident injury attorney about the details of their fee structure and the timeline of the process.
Do I have to pay the lawyer if I lose?
As already mentioned, accident injury attorneys typically work on a contingency basis. Therefore, lawyers are only compensated if your case is successful.
Accident lawyers frequently do not receive payment for expenses, including document retrieval fees, filing fees, costs associated with hiring experts, and court reporter fees. In the event that your case is unsuccessful, you would be liable for such expenses.
Sometimes, accident attorneys claim that they do not have to charge fees if your case is unsuccessful. Before hiring accident attorneys, be sure to get this clear and in writing.
If you or your loved ones suffer consequences of car accident but can’t reach fair settlement on their own, we are here to help. Contact us now at 1-800-HURT-511 to receive a free case evaluation from one of our personal injury lawyers. We provide free consultations for individuals and their families in NYC whose lives have been impacted by a car accident. We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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