Selecting the right accident attorney to hire can greatly sway the outcome of your case. Here are some important queries to put to an accident attorney in your consideration of whether to retain them or not. The first point to remember is that personal injury cases require a skilled attorney. They are not the same as other types of litigation.
Car accidents, for instance, usually demand a certain familiarity of the laws governing motor vehicle use. So, when you are searching for an experienced and qualified accident attorney, here are some of the questions you should be asking during your consultation:
What Are Your Fees and Do You Work on a Contingency Basis?
Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that they only get paid when their clients win and receive a settlement or court judgment. If the clients win, the attorneys take their fee, which is usually (but not always) about a third of the client’s winnings.
However, some personal injury attorneys do charge hourly rates or have retainer agreements with their clients. With either structure, it’s very important to understand what you’re going to owe your attorney and when you’re going to owe it, before you sign any contracts.
What Is Your Success Rate in Court?
When settlements are not possible, and disputes must be resolved, moving the matter to court becomes necessary. If you have any inkling that your case might go to trial, you must gauge your accident attorney’s courtroom success rate. Some accident attorneys are better negotiators than they are trial lawyers. You do not want to find yourself in that situation.
What Is Your Communication Procedure?
As with any partnership, it is essential to have a good working relationship with your attorney, and that all starts with communication. Ask how they prefer to communicate and how often you can expect to hear from them.
Will they keep you updated, or will you need to touch base now and then? Their approach to all this is vital to knowing where you stand in your case. If they are not a good communicator, they might not be the right attorney for you.
What Are the Potential Obstacles in My Case?
Every situation has its difficulties – some challenges are just more difficult than others. In any given case, you might have the obstacle of needing to prove fault; some have the problem of negotiating with stubborn insurance companies, and others have issues where their medical documentation either doesn’t exist or just doesn’t do a proper job of explaining what’s going on. A good attorney can identify these challenges and discuss how best to meet them.
Never Settle for an Unproven Accident Attorney
It is important to consider various aspects before choosing the right legal representative. Accumulated experience with cases similar to yours, low fees, good communication styles, and a specific approach to your case are all necessary ingredients to feel confident in the potential success of an attorney. Asking a variety of reasonably probing questions can help you home in on the best choice for your legal needs.