The months after a car accident can be emotional and overwhelming. You may be dealing with injuries, time away from work, and costly repairs to your car.
To ensure that you receive proper compensation for your damages, it’s best to hire a car accident attorney. Finding the right lawyer for your needs can help the legal process move as smooth as possible.
However, it can be tricky to sift through all the options. This guide will outline some of the key qualities to look for in an accident lawyer. By putting in the legal effort now, you can move on from your accident as soon as possible.
Why should you hire a lawyer after a car accident?
If you look at a list of car accidents by state, you will see that car accident cases are complex and they involve much more than communicating with your insurance company. Crashes causes multiple types of damages, including physical harm, damage to your car, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In order to navigate all of these factors and receive as much compensation as possible, it’s best to work with an accident lawyer.
These professionals understand state laws and essential legal procedures. They will ensure that you have the proper documentation and evidence to prove your case. Attorneys also take the necessary steps, such as preparing a settlement demand letter to present to the insurance company. Legal steps such as these are always best approached with a qualified attorney on your side. Here’s what you should look for in a lawyer.
Area of practice
Whenever you are working with a lawyer, you want to make sure that they specialize in the type of law you are dealing with, within the state the accident occurred. If, for instance, your accident took place in California, you wouldn’t want to hire a lawyer from Massachusetts.
Not only will communication be extremely difficult, but they won’t have in-depth knowledge of the state’s laws and regulations. Instead, you should focus your efforts on finding a local accident lawyer around the Orange County area.
Experience
Experience matters when hiring someone in any discipline, and this is especially true with accident law. By hiring an attorney with proven experience, you can trust that they have worked with a variety of clients who are similar to you. You can also know that they are familiar with legal best practices across the board. Don’t hesitate to ask how many years they have been in practice and how many injury cases they handle per year.
Reputation
While you are browsing potential attorneys, take the time to read online reviews. Lawyers with positive reputations and who helped clients get positive results should stand out. To get an even better feel for a lawyer’s reputation, ask friends and family for recommendations. A word-of-mouth referral can be one of the best gauges of a lawyer’s skills.
Settlement history
Try to make several meetings with potential lawyers before you choose one for your case. During these meetings, ask them about their settlement rate for cases like yours. They will likely offer this information if it is a selling point for them. Lawyers with a history of impressive settlements may be more likely to help you increase your compensation.
Personality
While hard skills and experience are certainly important, you also want to work with a lawyer who makes you feel comfortable.
Car accident and personal injury law can involve sensitive subjects like disability, loss of property, or even death. A lawyer should be able to tactfully navigate these topics while helping you feel at ease. If you feel comfortable in their presence, they are likely worth working with going forward.
Your car accident case can become much less stressful when you find the right lawyer. The attorney will ensure that all legal procedures are covered and keep you updated through the process. Eventually, you will be able to recover from your crash and finally move on with your life, all while knowing you receive as much compensation as possible.
