You can find the best car accident lawyer near you by asking questions during a free consultation, reading online reviews from former clients, and finding a firm that has experience handling your case type.
Working with an experienced and knowledgeable car accident lawyer could make recovering the compensation you need and deserve following an injury crash less overwhelming. You should not have to pay for your medical care or future treatment on your own for an accident you did not cause, so recovering an appropriate payout is important.
Make the Most of Your Free Consultation to Seek the Best Car Accident Lawyer Near You
Generally, car accident law firms provide free initial consultations for prospective clients injured in car accidents. These often include a case review and conversation with a team member who is well-versed in how the firm handles crash cases.
The team member will likely ask questions about the accident and injuries you suffered. They may offer a quick assessment of your case. Then, there will be a chance for you to ask questions. Asking the right questions helps you ensure you are speaking with a firm that might be a good fit for you and your case.
Some of the most important questions to ask include:
How Long Will It Take to Recover Car Accident Compensation?
It is difficult to know how long a case might take, and you want an attorney who is honest with you about it. They should not promise to recover compensation for you quickly or ensure you will have it by a certain date.
You may want to do additional research on a law firm that makes promises about when your case will settle.
What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
You generally will rarely receive an estimate for your case’s value during your initial consultation. However, the law firm can discuss the damages you could recover and how your attorney can document your expenses and losses. They should talk about recovering money for your future costs and non-economic losses, as well.
Do You Think the Insurance Company Will Settle My Case?
Based on their experience and knowledge about similar cases, the law firm can discuss the chances that the insurance company will negotiate for a settlement or whether the case might go to trial. Remember that some personal injury cases settle through insurance negotiations, although some require a trial.
While most people hope for a quick settlement in their cases, you want an attorney who is willing to do what it takes to recover a fair payout based on your expenses and losses. While getting a settlement from the insurer is the hope, you want to ensure the attorney will fight for your best interests.
If The Insurance Company Will Not Settle, Will You Take My Case to Trial?
Some law firms prefer to settle every case through insurance negotiations and avoid filing lawsuits and going to trial. This is generally not the type of firm you want working on your car accident case. While many car accident cases can settle before going to court, you want to find a law firm that will see your case through no matter how complicated it becomes.
The best car accident lawyer near you will be willing to fight your case and help you pursue fair compensation, even if that means representing you in court.
Has Your Team Handled Any Personal Injury Cases Similar to Mine?
Asking about the attorney’s experience with cases similar to yours might seem like an obvious thing to ask, but many overlook the question. How the team member answers this offers a lot of insight into the firm’s experience, approach, and success rate with crashes that have a lot in common with yours.
This question is especially important if you have any unique aspects to your case. For example, if you were involved in an accident with a rideshare driver, you may want to look for an attorney near you that has experience managing cases against companies like Uber and Lyft.
How Many Verdicts Have You Won in Court?
Knowing you have a successful trial lawyer representing you is the best way to ensure you are prepared for court if the time comes. While most cases do not need to go to trial, some do. You want to have a strong team ready to navigate the process and fight for a verdict and payout when you need them most. Ask about the attorney’s past successes to learn more about their experience in hard-won cases.
Who Will Handle My Case?
Many accident victims do not think to ask who will actually do the leg work on their case. Sometimes, a firm will introduce a potential client to a senior partner only to hand their car accident case to a less experienced associate.
You should ask about who will directly handle your case, who you should contact when you have questions, and who will represent you to the insurance companies and other parties.
What Difficulties Do You See With My Case?
When a law firm thinks your case is smooth sailing and there will not be any challenges, it may be a red flag. Many cases come with challenges, and you want a firm that is prepared to work through any difficulties that arise.
Ignoring the challenging parts of the case will only make them more difficult to navigate. Be sure to ask the law firm how they may handle any case challenges before you hire them.
What Kind of Tactics Do You Use to Resolve Cases Like Mine?
While they cannot go into detail or outline a full plan during your initial consultation, the law firm can discuss some of the tactics they use to build cases, negotiate insurance settlements, or win at trial.
They could describe how they approached a similar case or discuss how they achieved past case results. You are looking for an answer that makes you feel comfortable with their tactics and shows that they speak from a place of experience.
Can I Speak to a Past Client?
Some law firms will gladly introduce prospective clients to a previous client. Do not hesitate to ask for references. Most firms can connect you to someone whose case was similar to yours when possible.
If this is not possible, you always have the option of reading online reviews about the law firm. Many firms have a page on their website dedicated to the testimonials former clients left after working with the firm.
You Want an Attorney Who Is a Good Fit for You
Not all attorneys are a good fit for your case. When searching for the best car accident lawyer near you, search for someone who you feel is trustworthy. You want to be comfortable reaching out to your lawyer and communicating with them throughout your case.
You can learn more about a firm’s communication plan by asking:
- How do you update clients on their case progress?
- How often can I expect updates about the status of my case?
- How do you communicate with clients? Calls? Texts? Emails?
- Who can I call with questions?
- Who will serve as my primary contact? My attorney? A paralegal? The office secretary?
While you may not feel like these questions are important now, how you communicate with your attorney is an essential part of your case. You will need to ask questions and be aware of case updates. How often you speak with your lawyer often depends on the circumstances of your case.
Some people want regular communication about their cases and updates on every change. Others want to focus on their healing and only need occasional updates. Both are great; you just want a firm that fits your needs.
You will also want to ask about your role in the process and what you need to do. Some firms want clients to be more active, while others prefer they let them handle the case and wait for an update. Ensuring the attorney is a good fit for you means making sure your styles mesh. Otherwise, the relationship can quickly become frustrating and stressful.
Make Sure You Are Comfortable With the Payment Plan the Law Firm Offers
Before you hire an attorney near you, you should find out how much it will cost to work with them. Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis. This type of payment plan means you pay nothing upfront or out-of-pocket to hire the attorney. They do not charge a retainer or any other fee before working on the case. The law firm handles all the costs of building the case and navigating the legal process.
Do not forget to ask about how you will pay your lawyer during your free case review. You may want to confirm the law firm operates on a contingency-fee basis. In the aftermath of a car accident, you won’t want any additional financial strain.
Your Lawyer Can File an Insurance Claim or a Lawsuit to Help You Recover Damages After a Car Accident
Most states allow collision victims to hold the at-fault driver legally responsible for a crash. This means they file a personal injury lawsuit or auto liability insurance claim to seek compensation for their expenses and losses.
A dozen states have laws that require drivers to carry no-fault auto insurance policies and turn to this coverage first after a crash. These policies have limits and allow the policyholder to pursue certain damages in the aftermath of a crash.
When a crash victim seeks compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit, they could recover damages for a wide range of expenses and losses they experienced because of the accident and their injuries.
In your case, this may include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Ongoing medical care costs
- Income losses from time missed at work
- Diminished earning ability if you cannot return to the same job
- Repair or replacement of your car
- Pain and suffering
- Lost life enjoyment
- Scarring and disfigurement
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may want to check that the firm you’re looking to hire handles wrongful death cases.
Your Car Accident Lawyer Should Handle All the Tasks Necessary To Complete Your Case
Your lawyer must prove the other driver caused the crash to recover damages for you.
To show that the driver acted carelessly or recklessly, the law firm may:
- Obtain official reports from the responding law enforcement agency
- Seek any video of the crash from local businesses or other sources
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Survey the crash scene
- Call in accident reconstructionists
- Request relevant medical records
- Hire experts to understand future care needs
- Document your recoverable damages
Using the evidence to create a compelling case, your attorney can demand fair compensation from the insurance company or prepare to take your case to trial.
An Attorney Could Help You Secure Fair Compensation in Your Car Crash Case
When you work with a car accident law firm on your case, you can pursue an appropriate payout and see justice brought to the liable party. Your personal injury attorney in Atlanta can handle your claim or lawsuit while you focus on healing from your injuries and getting back to your normal activities. This often allows victims to avoid some of the financial stress and frustration experienced by many crash victims.
The first step in your financial recovery is to contact an attorney and ask their team for a free consultation. Most firms provide these case assessments for crash victims, answer their questions, and offer to handle their claim or lawsuit without accepting any upfront fees.