Being a part of a car accident is mostly inevitable. Sooner or later a person is bound to be one, whether a minor or major collision. The odds are so high mostly because there are a lot of cars on the road with both experienced and inexperienced drivers. So, no matter how good of a driver you are, there is always going to be someone else who will make a mistake and crash into you. If you do get yourself in such a situation, it would probably be best to call a car accident attorney.
Keep in mind, not every situation calls for a lawyer. It is possible to be in a minor crash that could be easily resolved between the two parties that are a part of the accident.
However, if the situation cannot be resolved and the blame is turned on you, I think it would be best to call an attorney.
If you do not already have one, it might prove a bit difficult to find the right one. To help you with that, I decided to write this 2024 guide and provide you with all the information you need to ensure that you will find the attorney that will match all of your needs and requirements.
Contents
Friend/family referral
One of the most reliable sources of information is probably your close friends and family members. Often we ask our closest ones for a good mechanic, handyman, contractor, and even a lawyer. So, if you have no idea where you should begin, I would suggest asking them first.
They probably have had some kind of similar experience in their lives and have used a lawyer. Of course, if their experience with a lawyer was not good, they will not recommend it to you. In fact, they will tell you to avoid the one they used in the past.
Once you get a couple of referrals, you can do a little bit of research on those attorneys to find out more about them. After that, you will probably be able to make a sound decision. If not, there are a few other ways of searching for the right car accident lawyer.
Try online reviews
If your close friends do not have anyone to recommend, you will need to start searching elsewhere. Fortunately, searching today for any kind of information is easier than ever. All you need is just a connection to the internet, which is something most of us have. Since you are here reading this article, you do too.
Whether you prefer using Google, Bing, or whichever search engine, it doesn’t matter. Once you start searching, you are bound to find hundreds of different attorneys at your service. But, if you want to find out which one of them is good, reliable, and trustworthy, you will have to delve deeper into the ratings and reviews.
A lot of websites have a rating system that can help with your search, including Google. So, if you just search a certain law firm on Google, the rating of that company will show up on the right. If it is popular enough, there will probably be a couple of reviews that you can read through. This will give you a short insight into how the company handles their clients.
If most of the reviewers are happy with the service the lawyer/firm provides, you have successfully found the right one for hire.
Although, I do not recommend picking the first one with positive reviews. Go through several of them and then decide which one could provide you with the best possible service. As suggested by Yeboah Law Group, it would be best to find someone that already has a lot of experience in handling car accident cases.
Fees
Of course, a lawyer does not come for free. Well, sometimes they do, but not for these occasions, especially if you want to win.
Before you choose which attorney you are going to hire, you will first have to determine your budget. This is a very important step of the process that you should not skip because there are some law firms out there that can be very expensive. Even for minor accidents, they can have a fee of several thousand dollars.
Naturally, there is no point in wasting so much money on such a minor accident. So, once you go through your budget, you can search for attorneys who offer fees that are under that exact budget. Anything above that should be unacceptable. There are more than enough options out there that will satisfy your requirements. Don’t settle for more.
A face to face conversation
One of the best ways you can find out whether you can collaborate with someone is just by talking. A face to face conversation can tell you a lot about any person.
Online and through photos, they can portray themselves like an entirely different persona. This is why I suggest giving a call to the attorney you are considering and go to their office. See how their company operates and be on the lookout for any red flags. If everything seems to be in order and you are being treated with respect, you have managed to find the right attorney for the job.
Pick someone that is ready to go to court
Sometimes, even the most minor car accidents can develop into a more complicated problem. Whether because the insurance company does not want to pay the compensation or because the person at fault does not want to accept the blame. In that kind of situation, you will probably have to take the case to court.
Unfortunately, not every lawyer is ready for that. So, while you are still searching, make sure you find someone that is ready to go to court if needed. You wouldn’t want the lawyer to back out of the case at the most crucial time.
This is my simple, but very efficient guide for successfully picking the right car accident attorney for your situation. I hope that it will be of use to you.