How To Find the Right Car Accident Attorney
Key Takeaways
- A car accident attorney helps protect your rights, deal with insurance, and can negotiate settlements to cover costs like medical bills and lost wages.
- When choosing a car accident lawyer, look for someone with experience in personal injury law, good communication skills, and preferably local to understand specific laws and courts.
- If the accident is complex or if fault is disputed, hiring an attorney is crucial as they guide you through the legal system and help file necessary paperwork on time.
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash, you may find your life has changed forever. It may not be possible to go back to work or partake in activities you used to enjoy. The right car accident lawyer can help you through the process.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer may make it easier to:
- Hold the at-fault driver responsible
- Make insurance companies pay you the compensation you deserve
- Negotiate a fair settlement offer
- Protect your legal rights
It’s difficult to know where to start to find the right auto accident attorney. The best car accident lawyer is the one who you connect with, who you feel comfortable with, and who can take care of your car accident claim.
What To Look for in a Car Accident Attorney
An experienced attorney will ideally be someone who understands your needs. This requires good communication skills. For auto accident cases, you need to find a lawyer who focuses on personal injury law and car accident cases. An initial consultation can help you understand the attorney and their experience in personal injury cases like yours.
Car accident victims who want to work closely with their attorneys may wish to look for someone from a local law firm. Although there is nothing wrong with working with large or national firms, it may be that your case is handed to someone other than the experienced lawyer you first meet. A local lawyer may also be more experienced in local laws, judges, and court rules.
Why Do You Need a Car Accident Attorney?
A car accident attorney can protect your rights as well. This includes dealing with the insurance adjusters so you don’t have to. An attorney can provide sound legal advice and experienced legal representation to negotiate a good car accident settlement for your needs.
Suing After the Accident
Your attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the person who caused the accident. If the person at fault has an insurance policy, you’ll likely be suing their insurance company as well. A lawsuit involves the following the process and paperwork required to sue someone. If you win the case, you win compensation, usually in the form of money.
This compensation is to help cover the costs of medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. You can sometimes win lost wages if you miss work due to injuries.
Filing the Correct Paperwork on Time
There is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. The court can dismiss your case if you file your claim too late. A lawyer can file your suit on time before the statute of limitations expires.
Keep You Out of Court
An attorney may be able to keep a case from ever seeing a courtroom if that’s what you prefer. Attorneys with a track record of getting results for their clients may have better odds of negotiating a settlement in a case. Settlements are generally preferable to jury verdicts because someone is less likely to appeal or challenge the final outcome.
Understanding Auto Accident Lawyer Fees
Most personal injury attorneys offer a free case evaluation. They take their attorney fees directly from the compensation you win, with nothing upfront. That means you will owe nothing if you do not recover any compensation. This contingency fee basis means you have nothing to lose if you speak with an attorney for free and then consider taking your case to court.
Attorney costs can vary based on:
- The type of case you have
- Practice area trial experience
- A team vs. solo attorney researching the accident and police reports and medical records
When To Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Suppose you suffer no serious injuries at the accident scene. In that case, if the other driver admits fault, and their insurance company pays you the money you deserve for damage to your car, then it may not be necessary to hire an attorney.
But if there is any question about who may have been at fault, you should strongly consider hiring an attorney. The legal system is complex. An attorney can help guide you and protect your rights and interests. If someone’s negligence hurts you, you can recover compensation for medical expenses with an attorney.
Where To Start Looking for an Auto Accident Lawyer
Where to start can be the hardest part. You may see ads for car and truck accident lawyers on bus stops or billboards. You can contact your local bar association for referrals. Or you can ask for contact information from a friend or loved one involved in a car accident.
Most people start their search on the internet. It can turn up ads for people who don’t even have an office in your area. Or you can look for attorney listings like LawInfo. On LawInfo’s attorney directory, you can search based on location and practice area. You can also find more legal resources for information about how to file a car accident lawsuit after an injury accident.
Hurt in a Car Accident?
Experienced personal injury lawyers in our directory can take on the insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve.
At LawInfo, we know legal issues can be stressful and confusing. We are committed to providing you with reliable legal information in a way that is easy to understand. Our pages are written by legal writers and reviewed by legal experts. We strive to present information in a neutral and unbiased way, so that you can make informed decisions based on your legal circumstances.
