Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a car accident, you may need to hire a specialized car accident attorney. An experienced injury attorney can help you recoup losses resulting from an auto accident and / or reduce the large amount of paperwork, «red tape» and hassles often associated with auto accident insurance claims. Knowing when you need professional legal assistance can make the difference between a fairly settled case and owing or losing large monetary damages.
Below is some important information you need to know about hiring a car accident attorney.
Why You May Need to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Unfortunately, car accidents are daily. Most personal injury claims in the United States are the result of an accident involving a car, truck, or other motor vehicle. Many of these accidents cause minor damage to the vehicle in the form of a «fender bender,» and can generally be handled alone through direct contact with an insurance company. However, auto accidents involving physical injury, fatality, or other significant harm may warrant legal representation by an experienced attorney.
An experienced attorney can help you obtain compensation to cover losses incurred due to the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and auto repairs. In some states, a car accident attorney can help you recover when a loved one dies, especially if reckless driving, speeding, or drunk driving was involved.
What to look for when hiring a car accident attorney
Auto accident attorneys cover a variety of issues arising from personal injury, wrongful death, destruction of property, and liability determinations. When looking for an attorney, you should focus on your experience, skill level, commitment, location, and fee structure.
For example, your attorney should be well versed in state and national transportation laws, know how to deal with insurance and healthcare companies, and know how to effectively prepare and resolve a case. Also, it is important that you check the attorney’s background, references and history.
Lastly, a good lawyer will generally accept your case on a contingency basis or «no fee or fee» if the lawyer finds that your case has any merit, so it is important to verify the lawyer’s standard fee structure.
When to Hire a Car Accident Attorney
It is best to hire an attorney early to avoid costly mistakes. The deadline for filing personal injury claims varies from state to state. Because you may have to pay medical bills and / or cover lost wages, the sooner you contact an attorney, the better. In general, a person should contact an attorney shortly after the accident occurs, within a week or two after the accident, but before reaching an agreement with the insurance company.
Questions to ask a lawyer
Before working with an attorney, you should have as much detailed information and facts about your car accident and financial injury or loss as possible. Documents you want to show your attorney after a car accident may include your insurance policy, information exchanged at the scene of the accident, and medical records, among other things. Below are some of the questions you should ask before hiring a car accident attorney:
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to car accident cases?
- What experience do you have with the specific type of injury in question?
- What is a typical settlement range for cases similar to mine?
- How much of my car accident case will you actually handle?
- How are your fees structured?
- What out of pocket costs am I responsible for?
Legal fees: overview
Most car accident cases are handled on a contingency or «no win-no pay» basis. This means that if the lawyer does not win or settle the case on your behalf, he does not charge a fee. On the other hand, if the lawyer wins the case, you will get a percentage of the personal injury compensation. The attorney’s percentage varies from case to case, but may equal approximately one-third to 40 percent of the total award, with different limits imposed from
