Car Accident Lawyer: Key questions to ask one before hiring
**A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
No one would ever want to be involved in a car accident. Regardless if you’re the victim or person-at-fault, a car accident will require time, money and energy from you. It’s a stressful experience which can change your life. When you’re involved in one, you’ll also have to make drastic adjustments to your lifestyle in order to recover from any injuries and expenses. These are just some of the reasons why hiring a car accident lawyer should be on top of your list. Since a car accident already involves the law, you should entrust this situation to the hands of the professionals, never on your own.
Different law firms are operating in different parts of the globe. This availability makes it easy for you to find and hire a car accident lawyer. However, hiring the first lawyer you come across won’t guarantee the best results. In fact, making any rash decisions can only lead to bigger problems in the long run. Steer away from this direction by asking the following questions before hiring a car accident lawyer:
1. What is your background and experience?
There’s a lot of car accident lawyers offering legal services today. While some of them might charge lower fees, some can be very expensive. To determine which auto accident lawyer fits your needs, always ask about their background and experience. Ask them where they attended school, how long have they been practicing law and if they’re specializing in car accident cases. The answers provided by the lawyers can determine whether or not they’re qualified to help you.
2. How do you assess my case?
The lawyer you hire can significantly impact the turnout of your case. Lawyers have years of experience in the field, making it easy for them to come up and follow specific strategies for your case to win. However, the success of your case doesn’t solely depend on their expertise; as a client, you should provide the necessary documents for the case. This can include the police reports made at the scene and the medical bills you’ve paid for, for your injuries. You can also include the insurance photos and letters of your injuries (if you have any) and cars at the accident. Once you’re able to provide the necessary paperwork for the case, ask the attorney for their assessment. Throwing these questions can also help set your expectations.
3. Can you provide an estimate of the costs I’m going to pay?
Hiring car accident lawyers don’t come cheap. Most often than not, you need to allot a certain amount of money from your budget in order to afford their legal counsel. If you want to be financially prepared throughout the entire case, never forget to ask about the costs you’re going to pay. While you’re at it, also inquire about the factors which can affect these costs.
4. How long do you think the case will take?
Aside from attending to your medical needs, or the needs of the other party, you
need to have time for your case. You need to attend court hearings and meet with your attorney regularly. If you have other responsibilities such as being a parent or full-time employee, attending to your case might be tough. For you to manage your time better, ask the lawyer on the timeline of your case first. Will your case take weeks or months to be resolved? How often are the court hearings and attorney meetings? You need to know this information, so you’ll be able to meet your responsibilities with the case without compromising other responsibilities at hand.
5. How can I strengthen my case?
A lot of people think that once they hire a car accident lawyer, their case will automatically win in court. This is a misconception. If you want to increase your chances of winning the case, you should be proactive with your car accident lawyer. Before choosing who to hire, make sure that you ask this question. You want a lawyer who strives to help you, not someone who is just clearly after your money.
Make Careful Decisions
A car accident is probably one of the most challenging times in a person’s life. How you manage this situation can make or break the quality of life you’ll have in the future. If you don’t want this experience to take a toll on your life, make sure you hire the best car accident lawyer. Take your time to decide, so you’ll get the results you’re expecting!