Enlisting a lawyer’s help after a car crash can significantly improve your chances of recovering fair compensation. However, this outcome depends on choosing an experienced car accident lawyer to assist you.
Your choice of attorney will influence the success of your case and your overall experience with the civil court system, so it’s important to take your time when selecting a San Diego car accident lawyer.
A skilled attorney can help advance your claim smoothly, while an inexperienced one’s actions could delay or derail your claim. To avoid retaining an attorney who isn’t equipped to handle your case, consider all relevant information and compare multiple attorneys before rushing into a decision.
What To Look For Before Hiring A San Diego Auto Accident Lawyer
When you begin looking for an attorney to represent you, have a plan and take advantage of the initial consultations many attorneys offer. During these meetings, you can gather information about the attorney and their firm to make a more informed decision about whether to work with them.
Specifically, you should focus on the following points:
1. Experience
Just because an attorney has been practicing law in San Diego for decades doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most experienced lawyer for your case. There are specific laws and procedures applicable in car accident lawsuits that your claim must comply with. Having a lawyer who is familiar with these rules will keep your claim moving forward.
Undoubtedly, legal experience of any kind, especially litigation, can be helpful to injury victims. However, you should ask an attorney you’re considering hiring how long they’ve represented car accident injury victims in San Diego. Also, inquire about how long they’ve practiced law generally.
It’s possible that the right lawyer for you may not have decades of experience in the field of law. One with only a few years of relevant experience representing car accident injury victims could turn out to be more effective for you.
2. Fees And Expenses
You deserve to know how much an attorney will charge for their services and how they’ll bill you before you make a decision. If the lawyer expects you to pay for any litigation expenses, they should tell you plainly. Be wary of any attorney who tries to confuse you or doesn’t clearly explain what it costs to retain their services.
Not every lawyer charges the same rates or assesses fees in the same way. Some require an upfront retainer and charge clients hourly for all work performed. Typically, these lawyers bill by the hour.
Other lawyers charge a contingency fee. Under this arrangement, your lawyer keeps a percentage of any compensation award they recover for you. You won’t owe any attorney’s fees if they fail to recover damages. However, some lawyers using contingency fees may still require you to pay certain procedural costs, regardless of the outcome.
3. Honesty And Integrity
A good lawyer knows that every client’s situation is different — just because you and another person were injured in a similar way doesn’t mean you’ll experience the same outcome. Your potential attorney should give you a sober assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your car accident claim. In doing so, they will enable you to make an informed choice.
You should seek to work with an attorney who will give you honest answers regarding your rights, options, and prospects. A legal professional who promises a guaranteed outcome may be unable to deliver on those statements. Instead, choose one who thoughtfully evaluates your case and gives you direct advice.
4. Skills And Resources
Your claim for compensation is vital to your recovery. As such, the right attorney will have the necessary time and resources to devote to your case.
An attorney who’s stretched too thin because they have too many clients risks missing crucial deadlines and steps in your claim. At best, this could lead to you receiving less compensation than you might otherwise obtain. At worst, their inattentiveness could cause your claim to be dismissed or denied.
Look around the lawyer’s office and make note of the number of other attorneys and support staff you see. An office with haphazardly stacked files or one in which the phone is answered by a lone, frazzled legal secretary may be overworked and understaffed. While this might not indicate that the lawyer or firm is unqualified, it’s worth factoring into your decision.
5. Communication
The way your attorney communicates with you can make a big difference in how satisfied you are with their services. Some lawyers communicate frequently with their clients, while others may only reach out if there’s a major development in a case. You and your potential attorney should discuss your communication preferences so you both know what to expect.
Don’t assume that every attorney will honor your expectations regarding communication. For example, some personal injury lawyers might not be willing or able to speak with you every few days if there’s been no progress in your case. It will be up to you to decide whether you’re comfortable with their communication style.
Choosing The Right San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
Select a few attorneys you believe might be well-suited to oversee your car accident claim. Meet with each of them individually and gather as much information about their experience, fees, approach, and communication style as possible. Armed with this information, you can compare and contrast the various lawyers you’re considering and decide which is best for you.
The right car accident lawyer for your claim is the one you trust to guide you through the legal system. The confidence you have in them should come from a careful evaluation of the facts about their qualities as a legal professional. Your personal injury claim is too important for you to trust in your gut instincts alone.
Michael Pines is an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer with 19+ years of experience helping injury victims in the San Diego area. For more information visit: https://seriousaccidents.com/
