After a car accident, it can be pretty overwhelming to find the right lawyer for your case.The internet is swarming with thousands of law firms all claiming to be the “best.” The problem is that most of them are full of it.
The reality is, the attorney you choose can make or break your chances of winning your case and getting the money you need to recover from the accident.
The good news is that by knowing what to look for and what to avoid, you can connect with legal representation that will fight tooth and nail to protect your rights and interests.
Inside you’ll discover:
- Why it’s important to hire a car accident lawyer
- Qualities that separate the best from the rest
- Red flags to avoid
- Questions to ask before signing on the dotted line
Why Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer Matters
Car accidents continue to be a huge problem all over the country. In fact, the NHTSA estimates that a whopping 39,345 people died as a result of traffic crashes in 2024 alone. That’s a lot of families that have to deal with life-altering consequences every day.
The unfortunate truth is that most people don’t understand this after going through an accident. That, and the fact that insurance companies are not going to be your friends. In fact, they will go out of their way to try and pay you as little as possible in compensation for your claim.
The only way to get around that is with proper legal counsel. That’s where firms like Cellino Law Injury Attorneys come in. With experienced car accident lawyers that know how the insurance adjusters play the game, you’ll know that you have a fighting chance to hold them accountable and get the money you need to put things right.
Now, imagine if you will, that your ecommerce business gets caught up in a complex legal situation that it wasn’t able to handle. What would you do?
Chances are, you’d need to get a good attorney on your side. Well, the same logic applies to car accident cases as well.
They require knowledge of intricate laws, medical documentation, negotiation strategies, and more.
Key Qualities To Look For
The good news is that not all attorneys advertising their services as car accident lawyers are the same. Knowing what separates the good ones from the mediocre ones is half the battle.
The main qualities to look for are:
- Experience: Experience matters. You want a lawyer that’s not just handling car accident cases but someone who has a track record of results.
- Successful track record: Don’t just take their word for it. Ask for data that backs up their success rates. For instance, the average personal injury settlement is around $55,000. You want someone who can tell you about cases just like yours that they’ve gotten the best results for.
- Communication: You want someone who’s willing to answer your questions in a language you can understand. You’ll need that if they’re going to effectively communicate your case to a jury later on.
- Resources: Investigating and building a strong case for car accidents requires specific resources. Investigative teams, medical experts, documentation specialists, and more. This is an area where a small firm will struggle to keep up.
- Contingency fee structures: Most competent car accident lawyers work on contingency. This means no money out of pocket until you win. A lawyer that demands upfront fees before even taking your case should be considered a red flag.
Red Flags To Avoid
In the same way, that there are certain qualities to look out for, there are some big red flags that should be warning signs.
Here are the ones you should be mindful of when talking to lawyers:
- Guarantees about case outcome: No honest lawyer is going to be able to promise a certain outcome for your case. If they do, they’re lying to you.
- Pressure tactics: Good lawyers don’t pressure you into signing right away. If they are pressuring you into making a decision, it’s because they don’t care about your wellbeing.
- Negative reviews: Do your research before hiring a lawyer. Check online reviews, complaints with the bar association, and get references from past clients. You can learn a lot from how other clients have been treated in the past.
- Lack of trial experience: While most cases don’t go to trial, you still want someone that’s been to the courthouse steps. Insurance companies will throw you a better settlement if they know your lawyer will stop at nothing to get what you deserve.
- Unreachable: If they can’t return your phone calls during your initial consultation, just imagine how your communication will go throughout your case.
Questions To Ask Before Signing
If you want to know whether a lawyer is the right fit for your case, ask these questions before signing anything:
- How many car accident cases have you handled?
- What percentage of your cases settle out of court vs. trial?
- Who will be working on my case?
- How will you communicate updates to me?
- What are your fees and how are they structured?
A confident attorney will welcome these questions and have direct answers for each of them.
How Car Accident Settlements Work
If you’re like most car accident victims, you may not have a clue as to how the settlement process actually works.
Here’s a quick and dirty rundown.
Once you retain a lawyer, they’ll go to work investigating your accident. This includes reviewing police reports, medical records, interviewing witnesses, and any other evidence they can get their hands on.
The next step is the demand phase. Your attorney will send a demand letter to the insurance company laying out all of your damages and how much compensation they’re seeking in a settlement.
Negotiations then ensue. This back-and-forth process can take weeks, if not months. The negotiation skills of your attorney can have a direct impact on your final settlement value.
If at any point during negotiations things break down, the case goes to litigation. This is why having a lawyer with trial experience is so important when selecting legal counsel.
Factors That Impact The Value Of Your Car Accident Settlement
Several factors impact how much money you might be entitled to receive in your car accident settlement. These include:
- Injury severity: The more serious your injuries are, the higher the settlement value is likely to be. More severe injuries generally result in higher medical bills, longer recovery time, and greater disruption to your everyday life.
- Documentation: The more thorough your medical records are and the better the accident photos and other evidence, the stronger your case.
- Liability: The clearer the liability (fault), the faster a case tends to settle for a better amount.
- Available insurance coverage: This is a harsh reality, but you can only get as much from a case as the coverage available will allow. Understanding policy limits is key.
- Your attorney’s reputation: Insurance companies have a strong sense for which lawyers will fight to the end and which will take lowball offers just to settle.
What To Do After An Accident
When it comes to car accidents, time is of the essence.
Evidence is lost. Witnesses forget details. Statutes of limitations run out.
That’s why if you’ve been in an accident, it’s important to document everything right away. Seek medical treatment even if you think your injuries might be minor. Some conditions can take a while to present symptoms.
From there, it’s critical to meet with a qualified car accident attorney as soon as possible. The good news is that most offer free initial consultations
Wrapping Things Up
As you can see, there are certain things that you need to consider when trying to find a car accident lawyer that’s right for you.
Look for a lawyer that has the right qualities, check for red flags, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before signing any contracts.
The right attorney-client relationship should feel more collaborative than transactional.
After an accident, your recovery depends on a number of different factors. Your legal representation is one of the few things that you can control.
Make that decision count.
