Finding the right auto accident lawyer to represent you is the most crucial factor in a successful recovery. The experience and skills of your personal injury lawyer will play a crucial role in the success rate of your personal injury lawsuit and the amount of financial compensation you receive. Be prepared with the right questions to ask a car accident lawyer.
Most auto accident victims don't know that the most successful car accident attorneys in their community charge the same attorney fees as inexperienced lawyers who don't have a proven track record of success at trial.
Don't make the mistake of choosing a car accident lawyer from ads alone. There are unscrupulous auto accident lawyers who will settle your accident claim as quickly as possible for whatever settlement offer the insurance company will offer because these personal injury firms handle a ton of cases. At Marks Law Group, our skilled car accident lawyers have helped thousands of victims of auto accidents recover fair compensation to cover their present and future medical expenses, property damage, out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering, lost income, and other potential damages. To schedule a no-cost initial consultation, contact our experienced Decatur car accident lawyers today at (678) 251-9309.
Questions to Ask a Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may have been left with severe injuries and may be confused about the steps you need to take to safeguard your future. Hopefully, you contacted a Georgia auto accident injury lawyer as soon as possible after the auto accident. There are specific questions you should ask a potential lawyer before making your final decision. These questions include:
1. Should I Pursue This Car Accident Case?
Whether to pursue your auto accident case depends on several factors, including your own goals for the auto accident claim. The purpose of pursuing a motor vehicle accident case is to secure a financial settlement to cover your present and future expenses. But not everyone involved in an auto accident has a viable case for financial recovery. For instance, if you share most of the liability for causing the car accident, a car accident lawsuit may not be the best choice for you.
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Trustworthy lawyers will review your motor vehicle accident case free of charge and will weigh the odds that the case will be resolved in your favor. They’ll use this information to advise on the best way to proceed so you can decide whether it's in your best interest to hire an experienced lawyer to represent you and help you recover maximum compensation.
2. Do You Have the Staffing and Financial Resources to Take on My Case?
Car accident lawsuits involving catastrophic personal injuries are very expensive to take to court. For instance, a typical motor vehicle accident case against a drunk driver can involve accident experts and motor vehicle safety experts, and expert witnesses who will testify about the severity of your injuries. Expert witnesses include life care planners, treating physicians, vocational experts, and economists.
If a prospective car accident lawyer lacks the financial resources to fund a case properly, he or she will cut at the expense of the potential client’s case. Or a prospective client can be pressured into taking an unfair settlement. It pays to hire an experienced lawyer who has the financial and staffing resources to take your case all the way to trial.
3. What Types of Cases Do You Handle a Regular Basis?
Some attorneys are “general practitioners” who handle different legal cases, including the occasional personal injury case. If you have a serious car accident claim, you will want a lawyer who handles auto accident injury cases frequently. The legal practice of auto accident law has become complicated that it's impossible for a general practice attorney to stay up-to-date on all the developments in personal injury law.
Most of the motor vehicle crash attorneys who are hired by insurance companies to defend car accident lawsuits have professional experiences and are legal experts who limit their practice to defending personal injury cases. A general practice lawyer will be at a tremendous disadvantage when he or she goes up against a car accident attorney law firm that specializes in auto accident cases.
4. Do You Try Lawsuits in Court?
Most laypeople believe that all auto accident lawyers go to court and try cases regularly. However, it's essential to note that many auto accident lawyers who hold themselves out to be "trial lawyers” have little jury trial experience. One of the additional auto accident questions you should ask a potential car accident attorney is whether he or she tries cases in court, and, if so, how often. This is an essential question that many auto accident victims never think to ask.
Lawyers who defend motor vehicle accident cases know the car accident lawyers who actually try cases and those who don’t. Insurance companies use this information to gauge their risk.
There's only one way to get a fair settlement for your case in a negotiation settlement. The insurance adjuster must believe that your auto accident attorney is experienced, willing, and able to try the car accident case in court. If you hire an auto accident attorney who always settles claims and never goes to trial, is prepared to take a significant discount on your financial recovery.
5. How Are Your Accident Lawyer Fees Structured?
Lawyers structure their legal fees differently. Some may charge an hourly rate or a flat fee. Others take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you'll only pay them if your case is resolved in your favor. For an auto accident case, consider a lawyer who structures their attorney fees this way. It will enable you to defer payment until you recover compensation—and serves as an assurance of your lawyer’s commitment to your personal injury lawsuit.
After all, if an attorney will only receive a payment if you do, they’ll have a powerful incentive to only accept car accident cases they feel will resolve favorably for their clients. Also, they’ll be motivated to fight fiercely to maximize the monetary recovery you’re entitled to.
If your lawyer handles cases on a contingency fee basis, they’ll structure their legal fees as a percentage of your financial compensation or settlement. You should know this rate before you hire an attorney, as the industry standard ranges between 33 ⅓ and 40%.
However, even when an auto accident attorney takes cases on a contingency fee basis, there might be additional legal fees for filings, court costs, medical records requests, and other financial expenses associated with your case. Also, you must ask a potential attorney about these legal fees and how their law firm handles them before signing a contract.
6. What Kind of Financial Damages Can I Claim?
There may be many economic damages in a typical car accident case, including medical expenses, property damage, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages. There may also be more noneconomic damages to cover physical impairment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Some money damages are more calculable than others; for instance, past medical costs are much easier to calculate —and easier to prove—than damages for pain and suffering. Once you explain the details of your case to your auto accident injury lawyer and they have had the chance to ask you questions regarding what happened and how the motor vehicle accident has affected your life, they should be able to advise you on the damages you can claim.
At Marks Law Group, we invite car accident injury victims to schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned Decatur car accident lawyers—and welcome questions you have about your case or your legal options and rights. Contact us today to get started and get the answers you need to move forward with your car accident injury claims process.
7. How Long Have You Practiced Personal Injury in Georgia?
Laws covering personal injury cases are very complex because they also cover other types of bodily injuries which may be intentional or unintentional. The laws not only cover motor vehicle accidents but also slip and fall, medical negligence, premises liability, product liability, and medical malpractice.
Further, these personal injury laws vary from state to state, meaning attorneys can only handle auto accident cases that occur within the states where they practice. That’s why you need to hire an auto accident lawyer who practices in your state if that’s where the accident occurred.
The car accident lawyer should also have a track record of practicing in your local area. That way, he or she can navigate through the complicated personal injury laws of your state to make sure you get favorable results.
8. Do You Specialize in Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Not all lawyers can handle auto accident cases some specialize in other branches of personal injury law. So before you hire a car accident attorney, try to find out about their background in motor vehicle crashes.
When you are dealing with a large personal injury law firm, make sure the lawyer assigned to your case has substantial experience in handling personal injury cases, particularly those that arise from automobile accidents.
Hire an Automobile Accident Attorney Who Has Your Interest at Heart!
No amount of compensation can cover all the injuries and damages you’ve suffered because of a car accident. Compensations are only meant to make life a little bearable. Accident injuries can have long-lasting and permanent effects on your life.
That’s why you need a skilled personal injury lawyer who has your interest at heart–a lawyer that understands and feels your pain and suffering. If you need highly skilled auto crash lawyers who have clients’ interests at heart, contact the skilled car accident attorneys at Marks Law Group today at (678) 251-9309.