10 Questions Worth Asking Your Automotive Accident Attorney

Having the right help can be a game changer when navigating the legal system. If you aren’t familiar with the system, you’ll have trouble getting results if you need to do more than fill out some paperwork.

This is even more important when you have an accident claim. You need a settlement to help with bills, so you can’t afford to cut corners. But with 179,000 personal injury attorneys in the United States, finding the right lawyer for the job isn’t easy.

Do you want to learn more about finding help for your auto accident claim? Ask the 12 questions below to find an automotive accident attorney who can handle your insurance claim.

  1. Do You Specialize in Auto Accidents?

There are many types of accident claims out there. You have slip-and-falls, wrongful death, negligence, and much more. Each of those types of cases has unique factors that go into successful claims.

The same is true for a motor vehicle accident. If a lawyer doesn’t understand the ins and outs of car accident law, it’s hard to find what you need to file a successful claim.

Make sure an attorney verifies that they have experience dealing with auto accident cases. They should be able to demonstrate successful cases that are similar to yours.

When you work with someone who has been there before, you significantly increase your chances of a successful accident claim.

  1. What Are Your Fees?

In some cases, you won’t need much help with your auto accident. The claim is simple, so hiring a lawyer hourly or using a service-fee structure is a great choice.

You know exactly what you need, so there won’t be any surprises or unexpected bills.

But things change if you have a larger case. You need more done and may work with a lawyer for a while. These situations require a different fee structure since you can rack up too many lawyer fees if you hire one by the hour.

Look for a lawyer who offers contingency payments. A fee structure like this doesn’t require clients to pay any cash to a lawyer upfront. Instead, they’ll offer a percentage of the final settlement for payment.

This also means that you don’t owe your attorney a penny if they don’t get results.

  1. Are You Willing to Go to Trial

Even though you can settle most car accident cases without going to court, that won’t be the same for all of them. If a stubborn defendant refuses to pay and doesn’t care about wasting money, they may be willing to take the case to trial to avoid paying.

Unfortunately, not every accident lawyer will want to go that route. Instead, they will try to convince their clients to settle for less than they deserve.

This is where an experienced trial lawyer helps. Someone unafraid of the courtroom will go the extra mile for their clients. It can help you win in court and deter people from attempting to take on a successful trial lawyer.

  1. Do You Have Time for My Case?

A big factor that plays into the success of your case is how much time a lawyer has to do the work. Some attorneys take on as many clients as possible to make money, but in doing so, they overwork themselves and can’t give each case the proper attention.

You want to hire an attorney with the time to handle your case — and if an attorney doesn’t have time, they should have help to help handle the load.

Make sure to ask this question to a lawyer. It’s also wise to look at the firm’s size to see how many associates are available to help the primary lawyers.

  1. What Do You Expect From Me?

Attorneys expect different things from their clients. In some cases, you can get away without doing much for your case. Your attorney will handle all the heavy lifting, giving you time to process the accident and recover from injuries.

However, other attorneys want their clients to stay more involved. They will regularly communicate case updates and request input about the next steps.

It’s essential for you to consider how much work you want to take on during this process. Once you decide how to handle things, find an attorney that will meet your expectations.

  1. Which Lawyer Will Handle My Case?

You can’t count on the person you interview with at a law firm to handle your case. Many established firms will use more public figures to interview clients. Since those people are more well-known, they resonate more with people and can win more clients.

However, your case often gets passed to an associate in those situations. You need to understand if this is what will happen.

If so, try to learn who will be your point of contact and handle your case. You also want to interview that person to vet them for the job. You’ll also see if a less-experienced associate will handle the job and if that person has supervision to get help when necessary.

  1. Are You Qualified in My State?

The laws can change based on where you live. What’s legal on the road and accepted in one area may not be where you live. These details can change the outcome of your settlement — which means you need to work with a lawyer who regularly works in your area.

An attorney should be able to help you understand their qualifications. They can offer their bar number and give you information about the professional organizations they are a member of.

You can also check your bar association’s website for information about your lawyer. Make sure their credentials are up to date, and they have no disciplinary problems.

  1. How Do You Communicate

Working with a lawyer you never hear from is more common than you think. Despite being in a profession dealing with people, some lawyers aren’t good at communicating and will fail to inform you about your case.

You can’t afford to hire one of these lawyers for an accident case. You’re already dealing with enough trying to recover from the accident. Never hearing from your attorney will make things even worse and stress you out more.

The first thing to check on is how often you get updates. After that, see how long it will take for an attorney to respond to your requests. In most situations, you should be able to get a response in under 24 hours.

  1. Can I Speak to Previous Clients?

You don’t want to rely solely on an attorney’s word when you’re vetting them for the job. They aren’t going to give all the details about their past mistakes and give you a reason to look elsewhere for representation.

Because of that, you need to look for information elsewhere when vetting a lawyer. One of the best places to do this is with past clients.

Ask an attorney if they have previous clients willing to give a reference. When you can speak directly to a previous client, you can ask them about the pros and cons of a lawyer. You can also learn what it’s like working with someone from a client’s perspective.

You can also look online for more information if you don’t get much from the references. There are many places to read online reviews. Check those places to see what others say about an auto accident lawyer.

  1. How Can I Improve My Odds for Success?

A lawyer has a wealth of information about the law and auto accident cases. This means they can likely tell you straight away the details of your case and how you can win.

Ask this question to a lawyer before hiring them. A reputable law firm like https://alphaaccidentlawyers.com will have no problem speaking their thoughts about your situation. They can do this because they know their skill and can demonstrate how they can help to win clients.

See what an attorney thinks about your case and how you can increase your chances of winning before hiring them.

Hire the Right Automotive Accident Attorney

If you’re dealing with a tricky car accident claim, you may not be able to handle the job on your own. Dealing with medical issues, car repairs, and legal problems at once may be too much.

It makes more sense to reach out to an experienced attorney for help. The right automotive accident attorney can look at your unique situation and develop a plan to get you the money you deserve. Ask the questions above during your search to find the best lawyer for your needs.

If you want to learn more about dealing with stressful life events, our blog has more posts that can help. Head back to read more posts and discover more great advice.