How to choose a good attorney following your car accident

Law Offices of Steven Zwick
Dec 28 2017

Every year, there are approximately 6 million car accidents on U.S. roads. That means that there are countless car accident victims looking for excellent legal representation. But knowing how to choose a good attorney to fight for your rights can be tough. If you’ve recently been involved in a motor vehicle crash, here are a few tips to help you find a qualified car accident attorney to take on your case.

  • Work with an attorney with ample experience in personal injury law
    The law can be extremely intricate and confusing, even for professionals with many years in the field. That’s why it’s typically a good idea to hire an attorney who practices personal injury law. Think about it: if you required heart surgery, you wouldn’t go to a pediatrist; although that doctor might be extremely skilled at what they do, they aren’t going to be the best person to handle the type of care you need. Be sure to ask about your choice of attorney’s relevant experience with cases like yours, even if they come highly recommended by a friend or relative. Just because they’ve handled other kinds of cases with success doesn’t always mean they’re the right person to work on yours, particularly if their experience doesn’t line up with personal injury cases.
  • Hire an attorney with a style and personality that will serve you well
    Keep in mind that knowing how to choose a good attorney is about more than a great track record and lots of experience. You’ll also need to decide on a lawyer who you can get along with and whose style suits you. This is a very personal decision and is something that can usually be determined after a face-to-face meeting. Remember that what works brilliantly for one client may not be the right fit for you. While some people need a bombastic lawyer on their side, others might want a legal representative who is just as quick-witted and calm as they are. You might have to meet with a few different attorneys to decide who will represent your rights the best and help you through the entire process.
  • Decide on an attorney with the resources to take on your case
    For many people, money will be a factor in choosing an attorney. But as far as knowing how to choose a GOOD attorney, you’ll likely need to consider more than just cost. In order to adequately represent your best interests, your attorney must have the assets necessary for case prep and important resources at their disposal. For example, does your attorney have access to medical experts and those who can reconstruct the accident scene? Case prep expenses can be surprisingly high, so your attorney needs to be successful enough to foot that bill. In general, your attorney should be neither desperate for your case nor too swamped to communicate with you on a regular basis. You can tell a lot from their office and from their general manner, so keep your eyes and ears open during your consultation and be sure to ask them questions pertaining to their resources.

Of course, these are not the only considerations to keep in mind when choosing a personal injury attorney for your car accident claim. However, these are three important factors to keep in mind. Ultimately, experience, personal preference, and available resources do play a significant role in whether your attorney is a good fit for you and your case.