The first lawyer you find online or in the phone book. Take time to research different attorneys and firms to find one that’s reputable and experienced in handling car accident cases similar to yours. Look at online reviews and check with your state bar association to see if any complaints against lawyers you’re considering. Narrow down your options to 3 to 5 lawyers that seem promising.
Schedule consultations
Once you’ve identified some potential car accident lawyers, schedule consultations with each of them. Most offer free initial consultations, a great opportunity to get a feel for their experience, communication style, and confidence in taking on your case. Come prepared with questions to ask about their background, success rate with similar cases, strategy for building your case, and estimated timeframe for resolving your claim.
Consider experience
Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer you consider has extensive experience handling injury claims resulting from automotive accidents. Ask how many years they’ve practiced this area of law and how many similar cases they’ve taken to trial experienced car accident lawyer will local laws, insurance company tactics, and the nuances of proving fault and damages. They’ll know what evidence to gather, how to negotiate effectively, and when to take a case to court if needed.
Verify track record of results
Find out about the success rate of the car accident settlement process lawyers you’re evaluating. Ask for references from former clients with cases similar to yours. Find out how much they were awarded compared to what the attorney asked for. An attorney should be transparent and willing to share this information if their track record is solid checking online reviews to verify if past clients were satisfied with their results.
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay anything upfront and they take a percentage of your settlement as their fee. Make sure you understand exactly what the contingency fee structure is for any lawyer you consider hiring. Ask if there are any additional costs such as expert witness fees or if the attorney’s cut.
Consider rapport
Pay attention to how comfortable you feel talking with each lawyer during the initial consultation. You want a compassionate attorney and patient who makes you feel heard and understood. It is don’t feel a sense of rapport right away, trust and good communication, which are essential. Go with an attorney you genuinely like and see yourself working with for months on your case.
Go into any consultation with a list of questions you have for potential car accident lawyers. Don’t be afraid to ask anything that’s on your mind, even basic questions about their experience or the legal process. Taking notes you remember their answers later when making your hiring decision. Ask lots of questions to determine which attorney seems the most capable of handling your specific case successfully.
Find out some logistics about how any car accident lawyer you’re considering structures the relationship with clients. For example, how often will they update you on your case? Will it always be the attorney himself, or sometimes a paralegal or junior associate? Make sure you feel confident they will give your claim sufficient personal attention.
