4 Questions You Need To Ask Your Car Accident Attorney
No one looks forward to the day when they have to hire a car accident attorney. Unfortunately, if you need to do so, that means you (or a family member) were in a bad accident.
When you find yourself in this position, you’ll need to select your accident attorneys carefully. You might need to get money to pay for your pain and suffering, or you may need them to defend you and reduce the possibility of judgment against you.
With that in mind, here are some questions you should ask your car accident attorney before hiring them.
1. Have You Worked on a Case Similar to Mine?
If you get help from an attorney specializing in auto accidents, then there are a few things about them you’ll want to know immediately. For instance, you’ll want to see if they have handled cases in the past that sound similar to yours. Their answer will matter because:
- If they do not have the experience, they could botch your case
- They should be confident in the courtroom
Getting a newbie lawyer who has never spoken in front of a jury or judge is not in your best interest. Of course, everyone has to start somewhere, but when you ask your prospective lawyer this question, the answer you want is that they’ve handled lots of cases like yours.
2. Have You Won Cases Like Mine Before?
A follow-up question that makes sense if the lawyer says they’ve handled cases like yours is the outcome of those situations. It will not exactly fill you with overwhelming confidence if the lawyer:
- Turns red
- Tries to avoid this question
- Mumbles that they lost those cases
If the lawyer doesn’t give a straight answer, ask more pointedly. For example, ask for specific instances where they won cases similar to yours, with dollar amounts. You can then research those outcomes if you want to. In the internet age, you can learn about anything and easily confirm whether or not an attorney is telling you the truth.
Once you tell your prospective lawyer everything regarding your car accident case, you can ask them how exactly they plan on winning it for you. They should be able to outline the details of the strategy they’ll use.
That might involve hiring an investigator to look at photos or videos of the accident scene. They may have their investigator interview witnesses or first responders if the other driver says things happened differently than what you claim.
If your lawyer looks blank or doesn’t seem able to give you a concrete plan for moving forward, they’re likely not the right choice to help you.
3. Do You Charge on a Contingency Basis?
This is undoubtedly a question you’ll want to ask. Unfortunately, pay structures for car accident lawyers vary, and you should be sure that you understand how and when your lawyer will charge you before you sign anything.
If you’re seeking damages after a car wreck, and your lawyer charges on a contingency basis, that generally means that if they don’t win the case for you, you don’t pay them anything.
This is the opposite of putting them on a retainer, meaning you have to pay for their services, whether they win or not. If they’re demanding money regardless of whether they win your case, you might want to look elsewhere.
4. How Long Could It Take to Settle My Claim?
It would be best to ask them how long they think it may take to settle this affair. They should have details about the timetable if they’ve done this sort of thing before.
If they have experience in this area, they can easily lay out all the details and an approximate timeline of what you can expect. On the other hand, if this isn’t something they can tell you about off the top of their head, that means they’re inexperienced and probably not the best choice to represent your interests.
Picking a car accident lawyer is no frivolous thing. It’s not like deciding where you want to eat for lunch. However, you should choose your attorney very cautiously since the outcome of your claim could mean thousands of dollars either going into or out of your pockets.
A reasonable car accident attorney should have no issue answering these questions. However, you’ll want to find someone else if they are reticent. Remember, you need to hire the best lawyer to help you through this challenging situation.
Asking how long it would take to solve a case definitely sounds like an important thing to do. I wouldn’t want my daily life interrupted by something like that, so I want it to be resolved as quickly as possible. I’ll make sure this is what I’ll discuss when I find an accident attorney in the area.
You made a good point that a concrete plan is important to prepare when it comes to car accident cases. I’d like to help a friend look for a car accident lawyer soon because she got involved in a minor collision accident a few nights ago. Two other drivers were involved in it so it might a bit of a messy case.
I would like to hire a car accident lawyer that will be able to help me out because I have no idea how to obtain my insurance after a car accident. I also agree with you that it will be wiser to opt for an experienced lawyer. Thank you for sharing the importance of asking about the retainer fees.