Car accidents can be a bit like that famous Monty Python sketch about the Spanish Inquisition. You don’t expect one until you’re in the middle of one.
We know how stressful it can be. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’ website has some valuable information on what to look for in a car accident lawyer. If your car accident happened in Pennsylvania, be sure to visit their firm.
You’ll receive opinions from friends, family members, and doctors on what to look for in a car accident lawyer. Those opinions have their place, but they can also feel overwhelming. So, here’s what matters.
Relevant Experience
Always start by assessing the relevance of a prospective car accident lawyer. You don’t go to see a neurosurgeon to treat a stubbed toe, and similarly, you don’t want a copyright lawyer negotiating the terms of a settlement post-car crash.
When you meet for your initial consultation, always start by asking what types of cases your prospective lawyer takes to court.
Number of Cases
The other thing you find out is how many cases a potential car accident lawyer handles routinely.
You want to avoid something called a settlement mill. These firms push through a high volume of cases as quickly as possible. On paper, that sounds like a good thing, especially if you’ve never consulted a car accident lawyer before.
And while it gets you a prompt settlement, that may not be what you want. The damage from a car accident can be extensive and costly.
When looking for a car accident lawyer, you want someone who can prioritize your case and ensure the best settlement possible. You don’t want a lawyer who jumps at the first possible settlement agreement, and that’s the risk you run with settlement mills.
Counterintuitive though it seems, look for lawyers with smaller case volume but high settlement rates.
Lawyer Referral Rate
Earlier, we mentioned that after car accidents, you often get opinions from everyone around you about how to hire a car accident lawyer.
Collecting those opinions is an essential part of the research process when it comes to finding a reputable car accident lawyer.
But one of the best ways to assess a prospective car crash attorney is by checking how many of their colleagues recommend them.
It gives you an impression of how other legal professionals with similar knowledge view the lawyer you are considering. If they’re the kind of lawyer their contemporaries recommend to one another and their families, then you’re in safe hands.
Communication
Something else to look for in a car accident lawyer is strong communication skills. A reputable lawyer corresponds with their clients regularly.
They should also be able to distill complex legalese into layman’s terms for you. That’s important because it helps you understand how your case is proceeding and what to expect as it evolves.
Strong communication is also important because you need to feel comfortable asking questions, especially when you meet for an initial consultation. Some of these can feel awkward, like what their fees for settling your case will be.
But they are necessary questions and help you build an opinion of different car accident lawyers.
Fees and When To Pay Them
Speaking of fees, you need to know more than how much you can expect to pay. Another consideration when looking for car accident lawyers is legal representatives who wait to receive payment until you have settled the case.
Car accident lawyers that request an initial payment or charge for the initial consultation should raise flags.
A reputable lawyer will wait until you get paid to ask for payment. Their priority should always be achieving the best outcome for you rather than the fee at the end.
It’s also important to remember that that type of expertise and dedication costs more. Legal expenses vary, but sometimes paying extra for better service is worth it, especially if it gets you a higher settlement after a car crash.
Final Thoughts
So, what should you look for in a car accident attorney? Communication is essential, as is appropriate experience and the firm’s caseload. Take into consideration the tips above, and you’ll be in good hands.