Car Accident Lawyer

While you typically never think of a car accident happening, the truth is that every time we step into a car, there’s the possibility of a crash occurring. Most of these crashes aren’t fatal. Unfortunately, many can be, resulting in years of recovery and financial burdens. You may qualify for a settlement when you’re involved in a collision due to another party’s negligence. Obtaining the correct settlement may require help from an attorney. Before hiring an attorney, you’ll want to consider five key traits: 

The Right Amount of Experience 

You want to hire an attorney with plenty of years in the law, specifically in personal injury cases like car accidents. Depending upon your case, you may even need more specific experience from an attorney. For example, an accident caused by a government vehicle may have additional considerations, as well as a crash caused by a private company. 

If They Have Any References

Reading online reviews can help get you started when hiring an attorney. However, obtaining references directly from clients and colleagues often make a greater impression. While an attorney’s colleagues can be an excellent place to start, prior clients generally make a much better impression. An attorney should never be shy about providing you with references. 

If They Have Enough Time to Assist You 

Forty hours per week is considered full-time, but many attorneys will work more than these 40 hours. Naturally, this means that an attorney’s professional life keeps them busy. For this reason, you want to ensure that a lawyer will have enough time to devote to your case. Chances are, you may not be their only client. However, an attorney should still be able to provide a significant amount of hours. Be sure to ask potential attorneys how many hours per week they can devote to your case. 

They’re Willing to Fight and Go to Court 

The truth is that most personal injury cases—including car collisions—are settled outside the courtroom. The main reason is that these cases take a lot of time and money for both parties. As such, settling outside the courtroom is generally the better solution. However, the right lawyer shouldn’t be afraid to take a case to court. While they’ll normally try to settle the case with the proper settlement, sometimes the other party isn’t willing to budge.

You Can Communicate Well With Your Attorney 

You want to be able to communicate with your attorney and ask them any clarifying questions. A big part of an attorney’s job involves communication—not just with their clients but with the court system, insurance companies, law enforcement, medical professionals, and more. You want an attorney who’s articulate, can easily break down difficult information and knows when to be assertive, especially when it comes to negotiating with insurance companies. Be sure to ask any potential attorney any burning questions you have to see how they answer them. When hiring a car accident lawyer, you want someone you can easily talk to—a fact our friends at Patterson Bray PLLC agree with.