car-accident-lawyer Archives

Here’s What to Look for in a Car Accident Lawyer

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.

8 Tips for Finding a Good Car Accident Lawyer

Dealing with the fallout from a car accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed. The last thing you want to do is argue with insurance companies to get the reimbursement you need for medical bills and damage to your vehicle. Choosing the right car accident lawyer can make navigating a frustrating experience smoother and make sure you get the compensation you are owed.

1. Schedule a Consultation

Since you and your accident attorney will interact regularly, you’ll want to hire a lawyer who makes you feel comfortable. Schedule consultations with multiple lawyers if your case does not require immediate legal representation. Meeting with several different attorneys will allow you to choose the person whose personality is the most compatible with yours.

A consultation will also allow you to determine if the lawyer you are meeting is prompt, professional, and a good communicator. Finally, you’ll be able to ask them about their success rate in handling cases like yours.

2. Discuss Expenses and Fees

Some auto accident attorneys only charge a fee if they win your case, while others require payment before beginning your claim. You’ll want to ask about an attorney’s payment structure at your consultation so you can choose to work with a lawyer whose payment setup works for your financial situation. If you’re experiencing financial hardship from the accident, finding a lawyer who only takes a percentage of your settlement will be your priority.

Once you are ready to commit to a car accident lawyer in Houston, TX ask for a service contract stating the compensation amount they will receive and when it is due. You will want a copy to keep with your records. While most attorneys are trustworthy, it’s just good practice to always keep a copy of any agreement you sign with anyone.

3. Choose a Lawyer Who Focuses on Car Accident Cases

Hiring a lawyer who dabbles in a little bit of everything won’t benefit you as much as hiring an attorney who focuses on car accidents and personal injury claims. A lawyer who concentrates their practice on automobile accidents will better understand laws pertaining to your case.

They will also have more experience dealing with car insurance companies than attorneys who handle everything from family law to drug possession. The insurance company’s lawyer will specialize in car accident cases, so it’s crucial that your lawyer does too.

4. Ask Your Friends for Referrals

When scheduling consultations, don’t hesitate to contact friends and family and ask if they’ve used a lawyer they can recommend. Alternatively, they may have had a horrible experience with a lawyer and give you a name to cross off your list of contenders.

Whether their experience with their lawyer was negative or positive, it can help you select candidates. Depending on the size of your social circle and how frequently they’ve been involved in car accidents, you may be able to put together a list of possible lawyers based purely on recommendations.

5. Check Their History

Before scheduling a consultation, you’ll want to make sure any candidate is in good standing with the State Bar. A search on the State Bar website will let you know if they have had previous disciplinary actions taken against them due to unethical conduct and if their license to practice law has ever been suspended.

If you can’t find a lawyer’s name on the website, that can be a red flag that something may be amiss with their credentials. While innocuous reasons could explain why you cannot find a lawyer on the State Bar website, you’ll definitely want to dig deeper before trusting them with your case.

6. Scroll Through Their Website

Professional lawyers will have professional websites. In today’s world, a business or individual’s website is a way of making a first impression. If the first impression you get when visiting a website is poor, you probably won’t be more impressed when you interact with the lawyer in person.

Look for websites that appear as if someone put care into creating them. A website that looks like it was tossed together in a few minutes signifies unprofessionalism and lack of attention to detail: two traits you don’t want in your attorney.

7. Read Their Reviews

When determining which lawyers to schedule a consultation with, take a look at their reviews before making any appointments. Check Facebook, Google, and other review sites to ensure you get the complete picture because some platforms make it easy for business owners to delete negative reviews. Of course, you’ll want to avoid a car accident lawyer whose reviews are mainly negative, but 5-star ratings across the board can also be a warning.

When you see nothing but excellent reviews, there are two things it could be: either the lawyer is that fantastic, or they are buying reviews. A lawyer with primarily good reviews and a few unhappy clients sprinkled in is a safer bet. It’s impossible to please every client, so seeing some medium to low ratings is expected and lets you know that the lawyer probably isn’t padding or altering their reviews.

8. Ask All Your Questions

If you don’t understand a term your potential lawyer uses, don’t be afraid to ask. A quality lawyer won’t expect their client to know legal jargon or innately understand how an accident case is handled. A lawyer who can explain legal concepts to you in a way that makes sense has a strong understanding of the law, and good communication skills, which are essential characteristics in a lawyer.

Don’t settle for working with an unprofessional attorney. Instead, keep these tips in mind to help you find a quality lawyer to handle your case. Dealing with a car accident claim isn’t fun, but with a skilled lawyer on your team, you’ll be back on the road in no time.

How To Find A Reliable Car Accident Lawyer

As cars have become more affordable, the number of cars on the road have increased. This is a logical outcome. However, this doesn’t mean the increase in traffic is without consequences. As traffic increases, so do road accidents.

If you’re a regular driver, then the chances are that you probably see the aftermath of an accident every day. It’s important to realize that you can get into a car accident even if you do everything right. This is because you can only control yourself, not the actions of other people. If you find yourself in an accident caused by another person’s carelessness, you need to be prepared. One of the first things you should do is consult with a lawyer.

A good lawyer can make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting financial compensation caused by injuries sustained in an accident. In fact, it may as well be the most important determinant of the result of your case. Your lawyer’s competence is inextricably tied to your chances of winning. Here are some tips on finding a reliable car accident lawyer.

Make a list of things you need

Not all cases and scenarios are the same. Accordingly, the perfect lawyer for your case will vary based on the type of accident and uniqueness of your claim. To find the perfect man for the job, talk to several people and keep the following points in mind.

First of all, ask him about his experience in terms of years. Then, follow it up by asking him about his experience with cases similar to yours. It may give you insight into how similar cases proceed, and if you can accordingly expect similar results from your attorney.

According to Queens car accident attorney James Galleshaw, it’s important to interview multiple attorneys so that you get an idea of different lawyer philosophies and capabilities.

How far is your attorney willing to go?

The vast majority of cases are settled outside the courtroom due to negotiations between your lawyer and the at-fault’s insurance company. However, what if your case does need to go to trial? This is why it is important to ask your attorney about the types of deals he or she has been able to procure for their previous clients and if they will be willing to go to trial if the situation calls for it. A good lawyer will always be prepared for every situation, while explaining to you your options and the best path to take.

Use your network of friends and family

Since car accidents are common, there’s a high chance that one of your friends or family members have been in an accident before. Talk to them about their experience as they can be a source of great advice and resources.

With friends and family, you can be assured that the advice you’re getting does not have any selfish reasons or conflicts of interest behind it. They can share their experience and might even be able to recommend a lawyer that successfully helped them.

Ask other lawyers from different fields of work

Have you ever worked with a lawyer before your car accident? If so, then be sure to call them and explain your situation to them. They may have some advice based on their overall knowledge of the law and their understanding of the workings of the judicial system. Furthermore, they may have an attorney who specializes in injury cases. In such cases, they can even give you the contact of a great lawyer who can tend to your matters. Competent attorneys always have a network of other attorneys from different fields, and you can use your existing connections to take advantage of their curated network.

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