Experiencing a car accident can be a scary experience, even if it is not a major one. Later all the hassle one have to go through, such as insurance issues, takes months of litigation. Now, to deal with all the mess, one needs to hire an auto accident lawyer to get a sound recovery of all the monetary losses due to the accident and for the reimbursement of any medical expenses incurred.
1. Find the Right Attorney
When looking for the right car accident lawyer, it’s best to choose a professional and experienced lawyer that works for your best interest. While meeting different auto accident attorneys, make sure to schedule free consultations.
It may take several meetings of consultations to eventually find an attorney one is comfortable to work with. Hiring a lawyer means communicating with him/her and his staff members, while the case is proceeding, for the next few months.
2. Discuss the Fees
Usually, car accident lawyers do not charge anything unless they win the case. But the client needs to discuss the payment before they take the case. Discuss clearly if there are any upfront or out-of-pocket fees. The attorneys mostly collect a percentage as their fee from the settlements you receive after winning the case.
Make sure that all this is discussed before signing the service contract and stay aware of the amount he/she charges you as a fee. Also read the service contract that states his/her fee or the percentage he/she will charge. It’s advisable to keep a copy of the contract for one’s record.
3. Provide the Lawyer with Car Accident details
It is very important that in the initial visits with the lawyer, the client needs to provide every minute details about the accident. Bring all the important and relevant documents, such as car insurance, medical insurance, any medical records or the hospital bills that one had to pay after the accident, pictures of the wrecked car, police report, and the contacts of the other party involved in the accident.
All this information will help the lawyer to build a strong case; the stronger the case is built, the quicker the client gets the benefits.
4. Ask about Case Assessment
After providing the auto accident lawyer the details and information, inquire about his/her opinion of the case. Ask questions such as “what is your assessment about the case?” “What settlement should I be expecting?” etc.
A good car accident lawyer will always answer clients’ questions based on their experience, skill, and knowledge.
5. Be Available and Communicative
The car accident lawyer hired to represent one’s case has to be a professional. That means they have to be available all the time, and be communicative. They need to maintain all appointments that they make, and answer calls whenever the client contacts them.
Finally just as one expects their lawyer to do their part, the client also needs to be committed and available to their lawyer. If the client is expected to appear in court, they must follow their lawyer’s instructions strictly. They have to work with their lawyer as a team to help them win their case.