Car Accident Attorneys

Every year, there are around 4.4 million injured in car accidents across the US. Dealing with insurance companies following an accident grows complicated. Ultimately, you may find yourself searching for car accident attorneys for help.

Although they’re unfortunately common, many don’t know what steps to take following an accident. There can be serious injuries, death, and other lasting repercussions — not to mention the financial side to deal with. Chances are, there are plenty in your area — but how do you choose the right one for you? When looking for a car accident lawyer, consider these five recommendations. 

Good References and Reviews

When you start looking for a car accident lawyer, ask around. Friends and family are great resources.  Ask for recommendations and if their experiences were good or bad with their car accident attorneys. You can also post in local groups to find names. Once you have some noteworthy candidates, you can start looking at online reviews. Many will have testimonials on their firm’s site.

By listening to references and then looking at the reviews, you should be able to narrow down your search. Remember that it is rare to find a car accident attorney with perfect reviews across the board. However, the majority of reviews should be positive.

Another good tip is to look for the one-star reviews and see why they were left. It’s often easy to see why the one-star reviews were written. Also, consider if the review appears well-deserved or biased. 

Plenty of Experience

Sometimes, someone will come out of law school, start a personal injury firm, and do wonders with it. However, this is uncommon. For the most part, newer lawyers don’t have as much experience as those who’ve been in business longer. If you want to play it safe and make sure your lawyer is doing the best for you after your car accident, pick an attorney who’s dealt with similar cases. That means they are capable to get the job done right and with the results you want.

Good Communication

Lawyers are busy people. They have more than one client and often a few complex cases on the table, and they need to be able to balance their time. However, that doesn’t mean they should be taking weeks to get back to you.

A good lawyer should return your emails and calls in a reasonable timeframe. If it’s a struggle to even set up an initial consultation, they may not be the right lawyer for you. You want your car accident issues resolved in a timely manner. That’s understandable and why good communication is vital.

If your lawyer won’t be able to get back to you on something for a while, they should at least be able to advise you of this in advance. You should also consider their style of communication and if it’s right for you. Some lawyers only want to talk over the phone, whereas some prefer email. Then, there are some that are open to both. It’s worth asking about this when making your selection.

Reasonable Fees

Many lawyers have different methods of charging their clients. Some are by the hour, and some only take payment if the case is successful. They should also be able to advise you upfront about how much they cost, so you can gauge if this is an affordable service.

It’s important to be honest with yourself and consider the other factors at the same time. You might be tempted to go with a lawyer who charges less, but they may not be the most practical option.  Instead, balance the fees with every other point, and consider if they’re reasonable that way. 

Knows How to Negotiate

With the average person paying $1,674 a year in car insurance, the companies that hold those policies make a lot of money. However, when it comes to paying out, things can still get difficult. 

Insurance companies are the reason many people get a car accident lawyer in the first place. This is because insurers can be difficult to deal with. That’s why, when you get a lawyer, you want to make sure they know how to negotiate. 

If your lawyer seems firm and authoritative, this will be a great thing in dealing with insurance. If they don’t seem confident or their communication skills aren’t great, that attorney is not the one for you. Since a car accident can be costly, you’ll want to make sure you can get the highest compensation possible. 

Hire a Car Accident Attorney

You’ll probably find that there are plenty of car accident attorneys in your area when you start looking. However, the quality of services for each will vary. Take the time to properly research each candidate and consider the five key factors when deciding which car accident lawyer to go with. For a trustworthy accident attorney in a number of states, contact Alpha Accident Lawyers.