In the aftermath of a car accident, you may be looking for the best accident attorney who can take your case as far as you need it to go.
It may not be a good idea to hire an attorney who has worked for an insurance company, regardless of their experience. It is possible that this type of lawyer will take the insurance company’s side and not fight hard enough on your behalf. On the other hand, a lawyer who has some prior experience on the other side can be a valuable asset.
The best way to determine if an attorney will be suitable for your unique case is to define what your specific needs are. Continue reading to learn how to find an ideal personal injury attorney for your legal representation.
Where to Begin Looking for an Attorney
Perhaps you personally know a lawyer or that lawyer has already represented you on a legal issue. So, when it comes to choosing an attorney to work on your personal injury case, it may seem natural to hire someone you already know. However, if this lawyer has little or no experience representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, you should look for more suitable fit attorney suitable fit, either inside their firm or somewhere.
Lawyers frequently recommend cases to one another, and most lawyers keep in contact with somebody who handles personal injury cases.
It’s best to have a face-to-face conversation with the attorney to go through your claim. Bring copies of all the paperwork you have related to your claim, including the police report, medical bills, information about lost income, and all correspondence with the insurance provider, including your demand letter if it has gotten that far. The majority of personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations.
In practically every law firm, attorneys cooperate on cases. Routine tasks are frequently handled by paralegals and attorneys with less expertise. If things move along more swiftly, that could be to your advantage. Furthermore, if you pay by the hour, it’s better not to have the more expensive senior lawyer do simple paperwork.
Does the Size of Law Firm Matters?
It’s a widespread myth that a large law firm will force an insurance company into paying you a better compensation. At a large firm, a little personal injury lawsuit may be easily missed. Large law firms also have a habit of freely spending money on expenses, which could consume a significant portion of your potential compensation.
The fact that big law firms frequently don’t devote the same attention or care to a typical personal injury case as smaller law firms. Because of this, insurance adjusters working with a big office might make a lower personal injury settlement offer in the hopes that the client will accept the busy lawyer’s recommendation.
A smaller law firm is more likely to give you more personalized care, and the best accident attorneys opt to work in offices with fewer attorneys.
Make sure that important parts of your case are not given to lawyers or staff with less experience. When you initially meet with a lawyer, find out who in the firm will be handling your case directly and who will have major responsibility for it. Ask to meet and discuss your case with the other attorneys if more than one will be handling it.
Additionally, find out which particular aspects of the case the lead attorney will handle himself and which will be given to a paralegal.
Cooperate with Your Attorney
A key factor in selecting a lawyer is how well you and the attorney will be able to communicate. Make sure your attorney listens to you. And ask yourself the following questions:
- Can you direct attorney’s strategy for the case if you want to?
- Does the lawyer provide clear explanations?
- Do you have a good feeling that the attorney will keep you informed and will truly value your opinion before making important decisions?
- How can you assist a lawyer?
The fact that you can communicate with one another can make everything go a lot more smoothly.
What amount of compensation do you want to obtain?
The amount of your compensation heavily depends on a number of factors. After you and your best accident lawyer talk about the facts of your case and the history of your negotiations with the insurance company, he or she may be able to give you a basic idea of how much your case is worth and how likely it is that you will get a settlement.
At this point, you should talk to your attorney about the strategies that could be used to manage your case. When you first employ a lawyer, you don’t have to insist on using that particular strategy for your cases and you can always request a strategy change from the attorney.
Reasons Why Lawyer Might Not Take Your Case
There are several scenarios when personal injury lawyer might not take your case.
As most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer is paid a percentage of the compensation you receive. And if the amount of money you are likely to receive is small, the lawyer may not take on your case. That’s because operating a law office costs too much for small cases to be worth the money. Still, you might be able to hire the lawyer by the hour to help you with certain parts of your claim.
Even though your injuries are severe and the amount of compensation you could receive is significant, a lawyer might refuse to handle your case if the likelihood that you will receive the full amount of compensation is low for whatever reason.
Last but not least, a lawyer can decline to take your case for the same reason you would decide not to hire the best accident attorney: the two of you might not get along or feel comfortable with one another.
If another party’s negligence resulted in your injury, our attorneys know how to deal with the legal system and insurance companies to make sure you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Call 1-800-HURT-511 today to get the best accident attorney to protect your right and handle legal representation. We provide free consultations for individuals and their families in NYC whose lives have been impacted by a car accident. We work on the contingency, which means you don’t pay unless we win.