When you are recovering after a car accident, there is a lot you need to know – and there are a lot of steps you need to take – in order to secure your right to the financial compensation you need and deserve. Hiring an experienced auto accident lawyer is the best way to protect your legal rights.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the attorney you want handling your claim. If you have been injured in a car accident, here are seven questions you will want to consider before making a decision about your legal representation:
1. Does the Attorney’s Practice Focus on Accident Injury Claims?
From personal injury to family law, estate planning to business law, attorneys can practice in lots of different areas. Each area of the law is different, and each requires an in-depth understanding of the relevant laws and procedures.
When choosing an attorney for your claim, you need a lawyer who focuses on representing clients in cases involving auto accidents and other areas of personal injury law.
2. How Many Years Has the Attorney Been Practicing?
Some young lawyers are very good, and experience does not necessarily equate to ability in the legal profession. Generally speaking, however, the more experience an attorney has, the more insights he or she will be able to offer when handling your car accident claim.
As a result, when choosing an attorney for your car accident claim, experience is certainly a factor you should consider. You want to make sure that the attorney you choose has the knowledge and background required in order to handle your claim effectively.
3. What Is the Attorney’s Record of Success in Car Accident Cases?
Even more important than the attorney’s years of experience is his or her record of success. You will want to choose an attorney who has a substantial track record of securing financial compensation for his or her clients.
Car accident verdicts and settlements can range anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Ideally, your attorney’s case results will speak for themselves.
4. What Do Past Clients Say About Their Experience with the Attorney?
Along with case results, client reviews are important to consider as well. While your car accident claim is pending, you will need to stay in regular contact with your attorney, and it will be important for you to have a good working relationship.
If past clients have not been satisfied with the service that they received, then you may want to look for an attorney who consistently receives positive reviews.
5. Does the Firm Have the Resources Required to Handle Your Claim Effectively?
Depending on the circumstances, car accident claims can be complicated and time-consuming. The attorney you choose should be willing and able to invest the time and effort necessary to pursue the best outcome for your case.
In addition to financial resources, the lawyer or law firm should have a dedicated staff of professionals who are committed to helping each client recover just compensation. This team will perform a number of different roles in resolving your case efficiently and effectively.
6. Will the Firm Treat You Like an Individual and Seek Maximum Compensation for Your Losses?
Law firms vary in their ability to provide personalized legal representation. When seeking to recover damages after a car accident, you need to feel confident that your law firm is seeking maximum compensation based on the unique circumstances of your case.
At the initial consultation, your attorney should ask a lot of questions about your accident and the injuries you sustained. You should have the opportunity to ask questions as well, and it should be clear that your attorney is going to fight to win the full compensation you deserve.
7. Will the Attorney Take Your Case to Trial If Necessary?
Finally, while most car accident claims are resolved through out-of-court settlement, your auto accident lawyer should also be prepared to take your case to trial if necessary. If the insurance company knows that your attorney rarely (if ever) takes cases to court, the opposite side will use this to your disadvantage, likely offering you a reduced settlement with the expectation that your lawyer will be ill-prepared to fight for more.
On the other hand, if the insurance company knows that your attorney will not hesitate to go to trial, then it may be more willing to offer a fair settlement in order to avoid the costs of litigation.
Contact Our Auto Accident Lawyers Today
The attorneys at O’Connor & Partners, PLLC have more than 150 years of combined experience representing clients in auto accident claims. We have earned millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients who have been injured or lost loved ones in collisions caused by careless drivers.
For a free case review, please call O’Connor & Partners, PLLC at (845) 303-8777 today. Our auto accident lawyers serve clients in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and other parts of the Hudson Valley region.