When you’re in a car accident, you’re likely to feel a bit confused at first. Maybe you know someone else who has been in an accident in the past, so you know you’re supposed to contact the police and get a police report completed. You also know you’re not supposed to admit fault, even if you’re pressured to admit that you did something wrong. Finally, you went to the local emergency room to get treatment for your injuries, and you’ve found out that this will be an ongoing process.
Now you know you need to talk with a car accident attorney, but you’re not sure what questions you should be asking him during your first meeting. This article will help guide you.
Question #1: Do I have a case?
This is probably the most important question you should be asking a car accident attorney. You’ll need to know their legal opinion on your case. Attorneys will be very blunt about how they feel about your chances of getting a settlement for your case, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding out what his thoughts are. Chances are that if you have gone through the proper steps to get medical attention and document evidence to support your claims, your attorney will agree that you have a case you should pursue.
Question #2: How do you get paid?
Once you’ve established that you have a case, you will need to know your attorney gets paid. While every attorney is different, many of them work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you get a settlement out of the case. This can be around thirty percent of your settlement, but again, this varies, depending on whom you choose to represent you. You will also want to know if there are court costs associated with pursuing the case if you need to take it to court in the event that a settlement isn’t able to be reached. Find out everything you can about what’s expected of you financially before you get started.
Question #3: How long do I have before I can no longer pursue the case?
The statute of limitations is different from state to state. If you’re not sure if you want to pursue your case, you need to know how long you have until you need to make a final decision. Many attorneys offer initial consultations at no cost to potential clients, so be sure you ask this question at your consultation. Additional meetings might not be free.
If you do decide to pursue your case, your attorney offers you the best chance of getting the money you deserve. A qualified attorney who has worked with car accident victims in the past will understand the proper steps to take that will result in quicker compensation and hopefully, a larger settlement. If you have additional questions that you’d like to ask your attorney, make sure you have them prepared ahead of time. The more ground you can cover at the first meeting, the better.
While it is a difficult situation, the aftermath of an accident doesn’t have to be bleak. With the right car accident attorney by your side, you can get the compensation you deserve.
