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5 Questions to Ask Your Car Accident Lawyer

If youre involved in a serious car accident, one of the biggest decisions youll
make is hiring the right lawyer. But how do you find out which lawyer is right for
your case?
Online reviews and personal referrals are a great start, but youll have to meet with
a car accident attorney before you hire one. And here are a few essentials questions
youll need the answers to:
1. How Much Experience Do You Have?
There are two types of legal experience: (1) the time an attorney has spent
practicing, and (2) the amount of similar cases he or she has handled. Ideally, you
want someone who has spent a long time handling serious car accident claims.
Even if a friend of a friend has 20 years experience, if its in divorce law, they
might not be able to help much. The more familiar an attorney is with your specific
type of claim, the better he or she will be able to represent you.
2. What Are Your Fees?
The first questions most people have are how theyre going to pay for an attorney
and how much their case will cost. Attorney fee structures can vary, and some
personal injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only
get paid if you win your case and receive a percentage of any damages you get.
Most consultations are free, and all attorneys should provide you with a clear and
accurate fee agreement before any representation begins.
3. What Do You Think of My Case?
This is a broad question, its impossible to predict an exact result of your case, and
lawyers are prohibited from guaranteeing a certain outcome. Still, an experienced
attorney should be able to discuss the results of cases similar to yours and the
relative merits or faults of your case. You will also get a good indication of the
legal proceedings and time that will be involved.
4. How Do You Communicate With Clients?
While your lawyer doesnt need to be at your every beck and call, few things are
more frustrating than an absent attorney. Find out how your prospective attorney
prefers to communicate with her clients (email, in-person meetings, or phone calls)

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and try to get a sense of how often. You need to know that they will be timely in
getting back to you.
5. Whats My Comfort Level With You?
Yes, its a question for yourself, and you can only answer it after meeting with an
attorney, but it might be the most important one. You need to assess how
comfortable you feel with a prospective attorney and how confident you feel that
they will represent your interests. Youre entrusting them with your car accident
claim, so you want someone that you feel comfortable with personally and
professionally.
If youve been injured in a car accident, you should consult with an attorney
immediately, and be ready with the right questions.

(Original article can be found here: http://bit.ly/2fjo9xi)