When deciding who to choose as your personal injury lawyer, experience and success rates are the two most important factors. It’s perfectly okay to ask a potential attorney how many car accident cases they have handled and how many they have won. Most will be happy to tell you their statistics and success stories. Since every case is different, no lawyer can guarantee a certain result, but you’ll have the best odds of a successful settlement with a lawyer who knows the ropes.
Not only should you look for a lawyer who has experience handling car accident and personal injury cases outside the courtroom – it’s important to find an attorney who has a good reputation for trying cases in the courtroom also. Many claims can be settled outside of court. However, insurance companies may be more inclined to offer larger settlements to clients who have a good trial lawyer since the insurance companies don’t want to end up in court. Insurance companies often deal with the same lawyers on different cases, so your lawyer’s reputation will have a significant impact on how the insurance company considers their settlement offer.
When choosing an attorney, ask how they will be paid for taking your case. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they won’t be paid unless they win. Then, their fee is usually around one third of the settlement offer. However, don’t take that for granted– always ask your potential lawyer what their fee is and how they are paid for their work.
