After you’ve been in an accident, your mind is swimming with questions and issues that must be addressed. You know you need to contact your insurance company and get medical attention, but you also know you should probably talk to a lawyer. The question is how do you know what to look for when you’re hiring a car accident lawyer? This article will give you a few pointers about choosing the right lawyer to handle your case.
Don’t Base Your Decision on Ads
Back in the “old days,” when you needed anything, you would just look in the Yellow Pages to find someone who offered a product or service. However, now that the Yellow Pages are slowly being phased out, many businesses are advertising on television. Just because a lawyer has a clever ad on TV, that doesn’t mean that he or she will do a good job of getting you a decent settlement. Whatever you do, don’t base your decision on the ads you see.
Get a Referral from a Friend or Relative
Chances are, you know someone who has been in an accident in the past. Your friend or relative probably worked with a lawyer to get a settlement. Those referrals can be very valuable, especially when the outcome was really good. Ask around to see which lawyers are the most recommended to you by the people you’re closest to.
Do Your Research
The most important thing you can do when you’re looking for a car accident lawyer is to do your research on everyone you’re considering. You want to hire a lawyer that has a good amount of experience. You can find out just about anything you want to know online. How often does that particular lawyer go to court? Is he or she willing to push for more money if necessary? What if a trial becomes necessary? Is this lawyer willing to take on a claims adjuster in front of a judge and jury if need be? Knowing the answers to these questions will give you the information you need to make a good decision on the attorney you hire to represent you.
Expect Regular Communication
This is a very difficult time for you and your family, and if you’ve never been through a car accident before, you will have a lot of questions for your car accident lawyer. Bring up your expectations for regular communication at the beginning. Of course, your lawyer won’t be able to drop everything to take a call from you every single day, but he or she should be able to return your calls within a reasonable amount of time. If it takes your lawyer longer than twenty-four hours to return phone calls, that’s not a good sign.
Finding the right lawyer to represent you might be challenging, but there are some excellent attorneys out there just waiting to hear from you. If you know how to find them, you can rest assured that your case will be in good hands.