Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. Aside from the physical injuries you might sustain, there’s also the mental and emotional trauma that comes with these terrifying events. Furthermore, your injuries have the potential to affect you for the rest of your life.
As such, if you’ve been the victim of a car accident, you must reach out to a car accident attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your case. They can help you pursue financial restitution for all of your pain, suffering, and financial burdens.
You could be forced to take a leave of absence from work while you recover or even resign from your job entirely. In some cases, serious car injuries can prevent you from pursuing your favorite hobbies and life goals. Needless to say, a car accident can lower your quality of life.
But how do you find the best car accident lawyer to help you seek justice? We can help you there. Keep reading for seven questions to ask a lawyer before hiring them.
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Will You Give Me a Free Case Evaluation?
This is the first question you should ask potential attorneys. The lawyer you choose should be willing to earn your trust and business. If they’re not willing to give you a free case evaluation, move on.
A free consultation gives you the opportunity to distinguish rapport with the car accident attorney. You need to know that they are someone you feel comfortable working with, as the case will likely take several months to resolve.
Just as importantly, a free case evaluation gives you a platform in which to ask vital car accident questions. You can learn more about the validity of your case and what to do moving forward.
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What Are Your Fees?
Next, you need to establish how much the car accident lawyer will cost you when all is said and done. Fortunately, most personal injury attorneys charge contingency fees based on the results of your case.
Essentially, you and your lawyer will agree to their commission, which will be a percent of your winnings. If the case is unsuccessful, they won’t charge you anything for their services.
However, you can compare commission rates, as some lawyers charge differently. Additionally, ask if there are any other expenses not included in their primary fee.
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How Much Car Accident Experience Do You Have?
Learning how to hire a car accident attorney who will adequately represent you means asking difficult questions. It’s okay to ask your prospective lawyer how much experience they have handling car accident cases. After all, the results of your case will likely affect you for the rest of your life.
How long have they been a licensed lawyer? How many cases like yours have they handled in the past? What are the typical results they’re able to procure for their clients?
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Do You Have Any Referrals?
This leads us to our next set of car accident questions. Ask your car accident attorney if they can provide you with a list of referrals. You need to see what their other clients have to say about their legal services.
Would their previous clients recommend the lawyer to other people? Were they satisfied with the results of their case? Was the attorney respectful, patient, competent, and driven?
In some cases, you can find these answers by searching for client reviews online. Many law firms publish their client reviews and case results to help win over new clients. If you can’t find testimonials on their website, use Google to search for reviews using the law firm’s (or lawyer’s) name.
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How Many Other Cases Do You Have?
When searching for a “car accident attorney near me,” you also need to ask about their availability and caseload. It’s quite common for personal injury lawyers to handle multiple cases at one time.
As noted earlier, it can take several months and sometimes longer for a case to be resolved. There’s only so much your car accident attorney can do while the other side is deliberating, building a defense, etc.
However, some lawyers bite off more than they can chew and become swamped with clients, paperwork, and research. Make sure the lawyer you hire can make your case a priority.
They should respond to your calls and messages as soon as possible. You shouldn’t have to wait days to get a call or message back from your attorney. This will only add to your stress and anxiety.
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What Will Be the Best Way to Get In Touch With You?
Speaking of communication, your car accident lawyer should provide you with a quick and easy means of getting in touch with them. Of course, like any other professional, they won’t be available 24 hours a day. You shouldn’t expect them to pick up the phone every time you call, respond to emails late at night, or be at your beck and call at all times.
That being said, you must establish a reliable line of communication. During your case, you will have countless questions and concerns only your attorney will be able to answer or address. Therefore, you need to look for a car accident attorney who has remarkable (and timely) communication skills.
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What is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Finally, you need to understand the value of your car accident claim. No attorney will be able to predict the future or guarantee results. However, they should have enough experience and expertise to give you a ballpark figure.
This means digging deep into the details of your accident and your resulting injuries, emotional traumas, and other areas in which your life was impacted.
For example, if you lose your job, there are lost wages, lost retirement benefits, financial hardships, and more. As previously mentioned, serious injuries can lead to a lower quality of life, depression, pain, suffering, and mental issues like PTSD.
Looking for a Reputable Car Accident Attorney?
As you can see, a car accident resulting in injuries can affect your life on a profound level. You deserve restitution for your damages. The only way to secure this financial compensation is by hiring a reputable car accident attorney.
Ask the questions listed in this article to find the best lawyer for your case. And if you’re looking for more valuable advice, stick around for a while. Browse through the rest of our blog to find more helpful content. find Kansas City Car Accident Attorney
