The one thing that no one looks forward to is hiring a car accident lawyer. Doing so means you had a vehicular collision and one that was bad enough to warrant getting some legal representation.
Still, sometimes these things happen, and whether the accident was your fault or not, you need to have someone dependable on your side for your court appearances.
You don’t want to just Google “car accident lawyers” and hire the first one in your area. You should definitely do some research to be sure that you get the attorney who seems like the best fit for your situation.
Here are things you should look for as you narrow down your choices.
You Want Someone Experienced
A car accident attorney can help you in many ways, but only if this isn’t their first time representing an accident victim. If you get an inexperienced lawyer, then they might:
- Not know what to do in court
- Overlook some crucial case details
- Be unable to get you the settlement you deserve
You might think that it would be nice to give a first-time lawyer a shot since everyone needs to start somewhere. It’s admirable to want to help out a neophyte lawyer, but it’s not going to be in your best interest.
You’re far better off getting someone who has been through this process many times and won’t make any mistakes.
You Want Someone Who You Can Tolerate
You don’t have to be the best of pals with the lawyer you hire, but it’s also no good if you find them insufferable. Your car accident lawyer:
- Should sympathize with what you’re going through
- Should have a disposition that doesn’t bother you
All lawyers have their own style, and there are some you’ll encounter that might not seem like the best fit for you. Perhaps they’re competent, but you don’t feel that you have any rapport with them.
Remember that you don’t have to hire the first lawyer you speak with on the phone or meet in-person. If the first, second, or even the third ones don’t feel like the right fit, wait until you find one who does.
Is Their Rate Reasonable?
Different lawyers are going to offer you different rates, and you might not have the money to pay what some of them want to charge. The best car accident lawyer in your area might command top dollar, and you might not be willing to pay it.
You want an attorney who knows what they are doing, but at the same time, if they’re asking for an exorbitant figure, you might need to go with a different choice.
Also, you will have to decide whether you want to hire the lawyer on a contingency basis or whether you’re okay paying them their fee regardless of whether they win a judgment for you or not.
The answer to that will probably depend on the case details, and whether it was your fault or that of the other driver.
Find Some Feedback
If you can’t decide whether a car accident lawyer you’ve contacted is the right fit for you, you can learn a lot about them by looking into their history online. The internet can tell you about nearly anyone, and that should certainly be true for a public figure like a lawyer.
If you see that they’ve had lots of unsatisfied clients, you’ll want to look elsewhere. You can look on places like Yelp, Google, and various online forums. If you’re seeing lots of satisfied former clients, then you can hire that lawyer with a lot more confidence than you'd otherwise have.
You Want a Skilled Orator
When you meet with your lawyer, you should try and decide whether they’re well-spoken enough to represent you in court. If they seem nervous, don’t project when they speak, and won’t meet your gaze, you can imagine how well they’ll do when representing your interests in front of a judge.
The right car accident lawyer for you should have the gift of gab if your case is going to trial. If they’re a shrinking violet who doesn’t like speaking in front of people, you’ll want to look at other options.
If you can find a lawyer who fits all of these qualifications, you should hire them and start working on your case with no delays. You can’t get on with your life until you either collect the money you’re owed or pay recompense to the other driver.
