How to Decide on an Auto Accident Lawyer
If you need to hire a lawyer, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the choices. Lawyers are better when they specialize in only a couple different areas of the law. This means you need to find an auto accident lawyer if you have recently been in a car accident. You should start your search my making a list of lawyers in your area. You can make this list using the internet and recommendations from people that you know. You can also find websites that will rate lawyers so you know you are getting an unbiased opinion of their work.
A lawyer's online website can tell you a lot about their practice. You should find one that looks professional and is helpful to you. Ideally the lawyer you hire should be experienced (have been practicing law for at least three years). You can start crossing lawyers off your list the more information you find out about them.
Their website will also be able to tell you how large their firm is. In other situations you may need the help of a larger firm, but for a car accident case you should look for a smaller firm. Each time you find out more information, you should cross names off you list if they don't meet the criteria. Once your list has been slimmed down this way, you should call the law offices. During the call make sure you are looking for red flags. These include a receptionist with a bad attitude, long wait times on the phone, or having to schedule an appointment far into the future. If they pass the phone call, then make an appointment. You should only keep lawyers on the list who offer free consultation visits. Read http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/car-accidents for news about car accidents.
Sit down and make a list of questions to ask the lawyer when you go to the appointment. Treat them like you are interviewing them for a job. You need to know all about their experience, their opinions of your case, and it would cost to hire them. Go to the meeting knowing what you can afford to spend on a lawyer. You can always try to negotiate with a lawyer for a lower price, but if it is still too high, move on to your next appointment. Visit the website of lawyers to further view their credentials.
This seems like a lot of work, but after all of that you should have a pretty small list. Choosing the right lawyer should be much easier. Keep your list in case you need a back up because you can switch lawyers at any time during the case.
