6 Easy Guides When Retaining Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents tend to occur out of the blue. You’re driving along on the highway, keeping an eye on the traffic around you, and the next thing you know, you’ve been hit by another driver. After calling 911, speaking to the police, and going through all of the steps, you need to hire a car accident lawyer. One can represent you in court, or at least against the other driver’s insurance company, making sure that you get compensated fairly for the damage to your car, any lost wages, and your injuries. Before you do a quick Google search to find one, take the time to go through the six guides listed here. They’ll help you find the best attorney for your needs.

1) There should be no charge for a consultation.

Most personal injury attorneys don’t require you to pay for a consultation. Instead, they’ll meet with you for free to see if your case is worth taking on. You’ll need to bring some basic information with you and ask a number of questions to see if the attorney is the right one for you. If the attorney does charge for the consultation, they should announce this up front, not at the end of the appointment.

2) Fees are dependent on the outcome of the case.

Your attorney won’t get paid until you do. Most personal injury lawyers take on clients using a contingency fee system. If you manage to reach a good (and fair) settlement with the opposing party, your lawyer will take a percentage of that. Don’t be surprised if the lawyer keeps track of all of the hours spent working on your case and takes that out of your settlement as well.

3) Ask for the fee percentage or cost up front.

Before you sign on the dotted line and choose an attorney to represent you, ask how much it will cost. The lawyer should be honest about the fee structure or percentage that he or she gets from your settlement. If they can’t give you any solid numbers, feel free to seek out a new lawyer.

4) They should ask questions and require information.

Your attorney will ask for as much information about the accident as you can give them. This means that they’ll need accident reports, medical records, repair estimates, and more. While they will get some of these materials themselves, you do have to produce some. Beware of a car accident lawyer who doesn’t require information.

5) Your settlement won’t happen overnight.

If you meet with a lawyer, who informs you that you’ll get your settlement very quickly – possibly even the next day – be very wary. The actual settlement process can take weeks, if not months. You don’t want an attorney who will rush to settle the case, because you may not end up with a fair outcome.

6) Follow their instructions properly.

You need to do your part in making sure that your case gets settled and stays on track. This means that you’ll have to follow through with appointments and produce all of the requested paperwork.