Main Factors To Consider Before Hiring An Attorney After An Accident

Every year, there are around 6 million car accidents in the US. Crashes can be harrowing experiences, leaving you scared to hit the road again.

In addition to mental anguish, car accidents can also cause serious pain and injuries, with some of them leading to lifelong pain and disabilities. All these things can have a huge financial impact, and you might find yourself struggling after the crash.

Thankfully, attorneys can help you file a claim and get fair compensation for your suffering. If you’re thinking of hiring one, then read on for the factors you need to consider before doing so.

Experience

The devil’s in the details, and you want your legal professional to get them right. You need a car accident lawyer who can handle your case with ease, which means they need years of experience under their belt. If they’ve been practicing for at least a decade, then it’s very likely that they’ve had clients in your shoes before.

More years in business also indicates that the attorney and their firm have smoothed out kinks in their administrative work. There’s a lower chance that you’ll have to worry about spotty billing, wrong charges, and bad communication (more on this later).

And as with any business, the years of operation signify how good the customer service is. After all, you’ll quickly shut down if clients don’t like how you treat them.

Specializations

Lawyers will usually be generalists or specialists. As the names suggest, the former type practices in all areas of the law, while the latter focuses on one or two areas instead.

There’s no right or wrong answer as to which one you should choose. For example, you might  pick a generalist attorney because your case is simple, and you’re on a very tight budget. They’ll typically have lower rates.

However, if your case is a more complicated and complex one, it might be better to choose a specialist lawyer. You’ll want and need someone who knows how to handle intricate details and has years of practice specifically in car accident cases. This will drastically improve your chances of winning.

Reputation

A lawyer may have decades of experience and has specialized in car crashes during that time. However, that still doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re an excellent lawyer.

It’s important to check an attorney’s reputation. A great place to start is Google since you can find reviews from previous clients. The search engine will also give you an overall score the lawyer received.

You can ask the attorney for references from their past clients too. If they oblige willingly, then that’s a positive sign. Otherwise, if they’re hesitant, they may not want you to know that they don’t have many good references or that they have unsatisfied clients.

Communication Skills

A lawyer can be fantastic at what they do, but if they don’t communicate well with you, then it can be a real pain.

It’s already stressful enough dealing with the mental and physical tolls a collision has on you. You shouldn’t have the added burden of constantly chasing up your attorney.

It’s recommended that you have your personal injury attorney on speed dial, so as you can imagine, good communication skills are vital. If you need them in an instant, a flaky professional just won’t do.

In addition, you want a lawyer who will keep you posted on all your case details. They should proactively get in touch whenever anything happens to keep your stress levels down.

Availability

A reputable lawyer will be in high demand, so two things may happen as a result.

The first is that they delay taking your case, which may hurt your situation. There are statutes of limitations for filing claims, meaning time is of the essence.

The second is that they try to take on the case on their own. Because they’re overloaded, they may be prone to making mistakes.

Just because an attorney is busy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing though. You want to make sure they can process your claim in a timely fashion and that they have the resources to do so, such as partners, junior attorneys, and paralegals.

Cost

Hiring the best lawyer in the world can be a nice thing, but not everyone can afford it. So it’s essential that you get someone who’s reliable yet doesn’t cost a fortune.

There are various attorney’s fees too. When looking at a legal professional, understand what their fee structure is and what it covers. For instance, many of them work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they don’t get paid unless they win your case.

Besides charging by the hour or a flat fee, lawyers have several other fees they may charge, such as consultation and retainer fees.

Personal Chemistry

An attorney can seem perfect on paper, but when you meet in person, it can be a different story. This is someone who’s going to help you get through this case, and you’re probably still feeling very vulnerable, so you need to pick someone you feel comfortable with.

To find out if you have personal chemistry with a lawyer, schedule an initial consultation (these are usually free, but as we’ve said above, some legal experts may charge for this). Not only will this session allow you to present your case details to the lawyer, but it’ll also let you see if they’re the right fit.

Never be afraid to go with your gut. If something feels off, then try another attorney.

Hire the Right Attorney for Your Accident Claim

A collision can have lasting consequences. Fortunately, you can get financial compensation for your medical visits, medications, lasting disabilities, and time off work.

The thing is, you need to have a great lawyer by your side. With their assistance, you’ll get through the legal process with as little stress and anxiety as possible. And as a result, you can focus on healing and putting this crash behind you.

Keep reading our blog page if you need help with other legal issues.