9 Tips to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer
Being in a car accident can be a very stressful incident, made even more stressful when there is a legal process interlaced. If you’re not at fault, you should be sure to lawyer up in order to receive the best settlement possible.
When deciding on which lawyer to pick, you will likely have many options. Separating the good from the bad is very likely to change the results of any proceedings you may have. Here are the 9 Tips to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer for you.
1. Start with Referrals
What is the first thing that you do when you want to try a new restaurant or when you want to hire an electrical company? You will first ask your family and close associates for a recommendation, right?
Referrals are one of the most important steps for finding any kind of contractor, including car accident lawyers. Considering that so many accidents happen in Baltimore every year, it is quite a safe bet that someone you probably know needed the help of a car accident attorney at some point.
What’s more, getting recommendations can help you narrow your options. Sometimes, what’s important is a place to start.
2. Look at Their Experience
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.
3. Understand The Fees
Research the lawyer’s fees. Yes, you’re going to need to pay your lawyers if they win your case, but you need to know they’re not going to rob you by running away with a huge percentage of the settlement. A fee of 33% is often considered standard, but this varies heavily by the law firm.
Ask your lawyer what the fees are for the work, and go by that. You need compensation to cover your costs after your injury, but you don’t need to be taken to the cleaners for it.
4. Listens to you
Another important factor to consider when hiring an attorney is to pick one that will listen to your version of what happened and the impact that the accident and injuries or losses have had upon your life. Your attorney must be able to tell your story and that can only be done if the attorney listens to your story.
Not only should you select an attorney who has the experience and a track record but you should also hire one that will fight hard for your rights and justice. In injury cases, you want an attorney that will fight for your medical bills, permanent injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You will want one who will fight hard to make you whole again.
5. Contact Past Clients
When you are doing your search online, you will come across review sites or forums where lawyers brag about their “high” success rates. Don’t fall for such gimmicks; take your time and speak to their past clients to verify whether or not the claimed success rates are true.
But how do you find a lawyer’s past clients? Simply check whether there are people who have left reviews about the lawyer and send them a brief email detailing your intentions.
6. Interview Lawyers
There’s no shame in checking into lawyers just as you would for a new job. Call a few firms in your area and ask for a free consultation. Question them on their experience, knowledge, and approach to negotiating for the correct settlements.
You’ll know when you hear something you don’t like. If a lawyer doesn’t seem up to the task, or if something doesn’t feel right about the experience, maybe this isn’t the car accident lawyer for you.
7. 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.
8. Nearby Lawyer
It’s smarter to go for a nearby legal advisor as they comprehend the neighborhood locale and climate much better than pariahs. Besides this, they will have a lot of involvement in dealing with neighborhood cases. So they are the best aces that you can rely on to help you.
9. Read All of the Paperwork
Always make sure that you review all paperwork the car accident lawyers in Orange County you are about to hire presents to you, so you are in full understanding of what you are about to sign. Once you sign the documents to accept their legal services you have entered into a contract.
Ask as many questions as necessary for you to feel comfortable. If the attorney is uncomfortable with your questions or seems bothered in any way, then it may be time to move on. You only want to hire a lawyer that you can openly and comfortably work with for the best possible outcome. Remember that your attorney is there to provide you with the support you need.
Conclusion: No one really likes looking for car injury lawyers when things are going well. That’s why it’s easy to get duped by a quack presenting him or herself as the best expert for your car accident. So how can you hire the best car accident lawyer to avoid wasting time and money on fake legal services? Here we create 9 tips to find the best car accident lawyer for you.