How to Choose an Auto Accident Law Firm

Car accidents can be traumatic and quite expensive. Just consider the injuries and financial losses that are often associated with them. If you add the emotional and mental trauma, it all gets even much more difficult. As a result, it’s only fair that the victim seeks compensation for the things they’ve suffered.

Trying to get compensation alone can be challenging and sometimes impossible. If you’ve suffered an auto accident injury, you need to hire an auto accident law firm that will represent your best interests as you file your claim. Deciding which firm to hire can be confusing, so we’ve written this article to guide you in choosing an auto accident law firm. Below are factors you need to think of when going through this hiring process:

1. Experience

First of all, we need to mention that the type of lawyer you need in this case is a personal injury lawyer. There are many firms that handle different types of injuries and accident cases. Nevertheless, not all of them deal with auto accident claims. Therefore, you need to find a firm that handles this type of case. 

After you’ve settled that the firm handles auto accident claims, then you need to do the following:

• Find out how many car accident cases the firm has handled and won since they started practice. 
• Confirm that they have experience dealing with your unique case type. For instance, if you were involved in a heavy-duty truck accident, you should look for a firm that has handled such cases in the past. 

2. Sufficient Resources

One of the benefits of hiring a firm rather than an individual lawyer is that you have all the firm’s resources at your disposal. These resources include qualified attorneys, staff members, and even finance. The practice must have the ability to hire accident reconstructionist, medical experts, expert witnesses, and financial experts as the case demands. 

With such resources, winning the case becomes easy. We know you might be thinking, how do I pay them? The next factor would clear the air on that matter. 

3. Legal Fees and Case Costs

Many auto accident lawyers and firms charge their clients contingency fees. You can read this article for an in-depth explanation of contingency fees. But if you don’t have the time, let’s break it down quickly. 

A contingency fee is a percentage of the compensation you will receive when you win the case, which the lawyer or firm receives as payment for their service. So, you don’t owe the firm until you are compensated. If you don’t get compensated, you don’t pay the firm. 

In the same vein, you are not required to pay a retainer fee to secure the services of the attorney. Although you don’t have to pay the lawyer if you lose the case, you might still be required to clear the case costs. Therefore, you need to find out from your lawyer about the payment or reimbursement of costs.  

In many cases, these attorneys utilize a sliding scale to determine the final fee they deserve. For instance, they may charge 25% of your compensation if they can settle the case before they file the lawsuit. If they cannot settle the case and they have to file the lawsuit, the percentage will increase. 

Below are the factors that determine how auto accident law firms charge:

• The firm’s track record and experience
• The case’s complexity
• The amount other lawyers charged for cases like yours
• The case type
• The involved parties

We always recommend that you consult different firms and see how much they charge. This exercise would give you an idea of what these firms charge on average. Nevertheless, this strategy might not give you an accurate average fee.

Most experienced attorneys who often win their cases and recover huge compensation will charge high fees. On the other hand, attorneys with fewer skills, less experience, and resources will charge less. So, you must consider these financial factors carefully before you decide. 

4. Amazing Listening and Communication Skills

People naturally expect lawyers to have great listening and communication skills because of their line of work. You can visit https://www.bcgsearch.com/ to learn why lawyers must listen to their clients. Without these skills, it will be challenging to have a good client-attorney relationship. 

Here’s what you should do when you meet the attorney for the first time during the free consultation session:

• Confirm whether they actively listen to you. 
• Deduce whether they are paying attention to the details of your story.
• Take note of whether they are asking appropriate questions that will aid them in understanding the case. 
• Check whether they answer your questions patiently and in detail.
• Consider how well they explain legal terms in an easy-to-understand manner. 
• Find out about the firm’s communication approach. 

Do they reply to calls, text messages, and emails immediately? 

If there is a waiting time, how long is it?

If you accurately do the above, you’ll be able to determine the lawyer’s listening and communication skills. If they fall short of your assessment, take your case elsewhere. After all, if they can’t listen to you and effectively communicate your desires, how will they defend your interests?

Conclusion

After considering all of the above factors critically, hire a firm you are comfortable with. If you don’t feel comfortable with the firm, take your case elsewhere. We wish you success in your lawsuit claim.