Have you recently been involved in an accident? Are you currently searching for a lawyer to handle your case? Finding a good accident lawyer can sometimes seem like a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some questions you should ask before hiring an attorney:
How long have you been practicing? If your case is complex, you may not want to have a newly graduated attorney working on it. On the other hand, simple cases can often be easily handled by lawyers who have yet to obtain much courtroom experience. There is no easy way to classify cases as simple or complex simply by the type of case; it will depend on the individual circumstances.
Have you handled cases like this before? Although your potential accident lawyer may specialize in vehicle hit-and-run cases, he or she may never have had experience with certain types of hit and run. For example, if your car was hit by a delivery driver who then took off, the case may need to be handled completely differently than if it was an ordinary personal vehicle that hit yours. If your potential attorney has handled similar cases before, make sure to ask them how those other cases turned out.
Who will be working on the case? For some large law firms, most of the actual work will be handled by junior staff. While this is fine if they are simply filing and filling out paperwork, it can be less ideal if they are handling more than just the basics. If you have a question about the case and your attorney isn't available, you don't want to be left hanging indefinitely. Legally, paralegals and other staff members are not able to advise you on your case. Also, if someone else is handling most of the case, you don't want to wait on hold for your lawyer to get caught up on the status and what needs to be done. The ideal attorney will already have cases that they are working on, but shouldn't be so busy that they are unavailable every time you call. If your first meeting is with a paralegal or a secretary, this is a good sign that the lawyer may be too busy for your case.
What fees will be charged? Lawyers can charge widely varying amounts, depending on experience and the firm that they work for. Some accident lawyers will charge hourly, while others will take a percentage of your settlement instead. In order to avoid a potentially hefty surprise bill, don't assume that your attorney is one or the other. Make sure you know exactly what you'll be paying and when you'll be expected to pay it. If your settlement is likely to be paid in relatively small monthly or yearly installments, you probably don't want to wind up owing your lawyer a substantially larger fee immediately after the case is complete.
