When you’re in an auto accident, it can frighten you. They often happen suddenly, and you’re lucky to get away with no physical harm. Even if you’re not hurt, your car might sustain severe damage, or the accident might total it.
One of the most critical things with car accidents is figuring out whose fault it was. If your vehicle and another car collide, you have to know whether you’re likely to owe a judgment if there’s a trial, or whether you can collect one if the other driver made a mistake.
It makes sense to find yourself a skilled car accident attorney if you find yourself in this position. Without one, navigating your court appearances will be tough.
Here are some tips to help you find a dependable car accident lawyer.
Look at Some Online Reviews
There are so many automobile accident lawyers, and it can be hard to choose between them. If they all claim to be fantastic at what they do, how do you know who is telling the truth?
One thing that you might choose to do is to look for some online feedback. You can do this by:
- Googling the lawyer’s name and seeing what reviews come up
- Going on sites like Yelp to see if there are additional reviews
The more feedback you get about a particular lawyer, the better you can assess if they’re as good as they say. Maybe you know a lawyer’s name and face because you see it on billboards or bus stop benches.
However, just because they’re notorious, that doesn’t mean they’re the best choice for the job. If you can get some anecdotal evidence that their clients like them and the lawyer won cases for them, then you can be more confident about contacting them.
See Where They Work
You can also tell a great deal about a lawyer by their offices. You might go to a lawyer’s office in-person and see that:
- The place is in a run-down area
- The receptionist is rude to you
- The office is a mess
All of these are bad signs. You want a lawyer who seems to have everything under control. Certainly, you want excellent treatment from the attorney and anyone involved with their organization.
Your first impression is most likely the right one. If the office is a mess and the lawyer seems distracted or disorganized, you should look at other options.
Ask Them Some Pointed Questions
If you like what you see as you check out their office space, then the next step will be to describe to them what happened. Omit no detail, and then wait and see what they have to say about your situation.
You want a lawyer who won’t mince words. They should get straight to the point and tell you your best course of action. They should tell you whether they’re the best choice to represent you based on similar cases they’ve had.
If they don’t seem sure of themselves or are inexperienced, you might want to look elsewhere. You need someone confident and experienced representing you.
See How Well You Get Along
You do not need to be lifelong friends with your car accident lawyer. Still, you should have no trouble being in the same room with them.
Remember that you’re giving them business. They’re working for you, but only if you choose to hire them. You have no obligation to do so.
If you feel like the lawyer you’ve chosen has a bad attitude, or doesn’t seem interested in your car accident details, go to someone else. There are probably lots of other choices.
Ask About Their Pricing Structure
Many car accident lawyers don’t get any money unless they win the case for you. That’s if it was the other driver’s fault.
If it was your fault, though, then it’s your lawyer’s job to get you the most lenient judgment possible. You’ll still have to pay them, and they might want some of that money upfront.
Whether you ought to go that route or not will depend on your financial situation. You want great legal representation. If you can’t afford the price a lawyer quotes you, though, then you may have to go with someone else, even if you felt like this particular attorney was a good fit.
Choose your lawyer with care. There might be a lot of money at stake in your legal battle, either for you to lose or gain.
