You can find a good car accident lawyer by asking others for referrals, looking for law firms that specialize in certain areas of the law or that have won awards or recognition, checking on a lawyer’s experience and record of settlements, and scheduling free consultations to determine if you feel comfortable with a particular lawyer or law firm.
The Trauma of Car Accidents
Despite various safety and prevention measures from stop signs and speed limits to state and federal laws, traffic collisions are commonplace. While statistics vary widely by state, car accidents are a national plight in the U.S. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, crashes are the leading cause of death nationwide among people ages 1 to 54, killing more than 38,000 people every year and severely injuring 4.4 million. In all likelihood, everyone will experience at least one accident in their lifetime.
Crashes can be traumatic for all involved. In the aftermath of an accident, you may feel like your plight is hopeless. As if the trauma of injuries and emotional pain and suffering were not enough, you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed, faced with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and uncertainty about your future with regard to health and financial stability. But there is hope.
If you were injured as a result of another party’s negligence or recklessness, you may have the legal grounds to seek monetary awards for your losses. Doing so is no easy feat. It requires extensive legal knowledge and expertise. Fortunately, a good lawyer can provide just that.
So how do you find a good car accident lawyer? Here are some helpful tips.
How to Find a Good Car Accident Lawyer
Ask for Referrals
If you know anyone who has worked with a car accident lawyer successfully, ask them for the name of their attorney and inquire about their experience. Once you have a list of a few potential attorneys, ask lawyers on your shortlist for recommendations from past clients or reference their online reviews to see what others have said. You can also check with your state bar association, via the American Bar Association website, to ensure the law firm is licensed.
Look for Experience
Experience isn’t everything, but it can be helpful, especially if your case is unique in some way. For instance, if your crash involved a rideshare company, you may want to find an attorney who has worked on rideshare crashes before. Or, if your case involves a wrongful death, you may want to find a lawyer with experience in that area. Also, check if the firm has received any awards or recognitions that may indicate their abilities. Furthermore, you can check a firm’s record of settlements. Most personal injury cases resolve before going to court, which is typically positive. However, it is also important that an attorney is capable of representing you in court if necessary. Ensure the firm you choose has supported clients in civil court before.
Find Someone You Are Comfortable With
Finally, it’s important to find a firm you can trust. Consider whether you feel comfortable with the staff members you’ve engaged with so far. Also, ensure those you speak with are communicative. Good communication is key to a successful client-attorney relationship.
Every case is different and finding the firm that works for you involves a number of factors, of which the above list is just a sample. When you have found one or a few attorneys you are interested in, schedule consultations to discuss your situation. Many law firms offer free, no-obligation consultations to determine if they can assist you or not. During this consultation, they may brief you on expectations, such as potential damages and an outline of the process.
Damages Associated with Car Accident Cases
Car accidents can cause a range of damages, ranging in type and severity. These can include property damage, such as a totaled car, as well as physical and psychological injuries, from lacerations and whiplash to broken bones, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, and mental anguish. Tragically, many people lose their lives or loved ones in crashes.
For victims, recovery and recuperation may require thousands of dollars for medical and rehabilitative treatments. It is also not unusual for victims to miss work due to incapacitation and medical appointments. For those with grievous injuries, returning to work may not be an option. And for those who lose a family member, friend, or partner, life will never be the same.
Under these circumstances, it is understandable that victims should want to seek justice. While no amount of money can undo your suffering, if you find a good car accident lawyer, you may be able to hold those accountable responsible for their actions. In doing so, you may receive financial compensation to offset losses such as medical bills, lost wages, or, if a loved one passed away in the crash, funeral and burial costs.
If you have suffered as a result of another party’s reckless or negligent driving, a car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover some or all of the following types of compensation:
- Cost to repair or replace property (such as a car)
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity (if you cannot return to your job because of grievous injury)
- Current and reasonably anticipated medical bills
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Cost to hire staff, such as a home health aide, to do essential activities you can no longer do yourself because of significant disability resulting from the crash
- Loss of consortium
- Memorial or funeral and burial or cremation costs (wrongful death)
How a Good Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Pursuing compensation after a car crash is a time-consuming and complex legal undertaking. First, the plaintiff must prove who was at fault for the accident. Then, depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash, they may need to negotiate with insurance companies, as well as the defendant or defendant’s legal representative. In most cases, involved parties resolve the suit with a settlement. However, it is sometimes necessary to take a case to court. Here are some steps an attorney can take to support you throughout the process:
- Performing an independent investigation, including interviewing eyewitnesses and reviewing police reports and medical records
- Establishing the circumstances surrounding the crash
- Proving who was at fault
- Building a case
- Devising a strategy to seek compensation on your behalf
- Representing you in negotiations or a court of law to pursue compensation on your behalf
- Communicating with you throughout the process to update you about the progress of your case and answer any questions
Connect with a Lawyer Today
In the aftermath of a car crash, finding a good car accident lawyer may feel like another task on a seemingly never-ending “to-do” list. Fortunately, you do not have to look far for a good attorney. Contact the law offices of Ben Crump Law, PLLC, to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to go over your case and determine if they can assist you. This law firm works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you receive a payment for your losses. Furthermore, they do not shy away from tough cases and are not afraid to represent you in a civil court if necessary. Call (844) 730-0233 to speak with a staff member to get started.
