Getting the compensation you deserve can depend on having the right attorney. Heres what to look for when choosing the best accident lawyer for your case. 

How to Choose an Accident Attorney 

Some lawyers will limit their practice areas to wrongful death or auto accidents. Others will concentrate on workplace injuries, slip and fall injuries, or motorcycle crashes. Many lawyers have expertise in auto accidents, premises liability, and trucking accidents. Finding a lawyer that's experienced and qualified to handle your specific accident case will be crucial to its success. 

Choosing a personal injury lawyer is an important decision that should only be made after you have considered all the factors involved. You owe it to yourself to do your research and find the perfect attorney for your unique situation. 

Find a Lawyer with a Good Track Record of Success 

You must have confidence in your lawyer’s legal team and their ability to handle every aspect of your case, from speaking with insurance adjusters and investigating your case to negotiating a fair settlement or taking your case to court. 

Jury Trial Experience and Resources 

A law firm’s website will tell you what types of cases the lawyer handles and their areas of expertise. A reputable car accident lawyer will have positive personal injury lawyer reviews from previous clients and fellow lawyers. They will also have jury trial experience and the resources needed to handle your case, so they can hire trucking safety experts, accident reconstruction experts, private investigators, life care planners, and other industry professionals. 

Should You Choose a New Lawyer or a Seasoned Attorney?

An attorney with more experience will have no trouble handling a typical motor vehicle accident case, but they are also more likely to have a heavier caseload and may not be available every time you try to contact them.

On the other hand, a lawyer who doesn't have much experience may have established a good working relationship with an insurance company and earned a reputation for not settling personal injury claims easily. 

An experienced attorney who has handled hundreds of accident insurance claims will know their way around the courtroom and will be less likely to settle for less than what their client deserves. They will also have a network of resources and will come from a respectable firm. They will also not be easily intimidated by a major insurance company or a team of defense attorneys. 

A new lawyer who is trying to build a practice will be eager to accept a new client and will want the chance to prove themselves. In some cases, they may even fight harder for you than an experienced trial attorney. 

Since newer attorneys do not have a heavy caseload, they can also be more accessible and willing to take a smaller case. 

Look Online at Lawyer Reviews

You can do a little online research to learn more about a personal injury attorney, what their reputation is in the legal community, what their track record of success is like with personal injury claims and lawsuits, and what people had to say concerning their experiences working with a particular personal injury law firm. If the personal injury attorney has a good track record and had plenty of satisfied clients that left positive reviews, this can help make your choice a little easier. 

Does the Law Firm Have the Resources Needed to Handle Your Case?

A catastrophic injury case that arises from a trucking accident can be very complex and expensive. A successful personal injury lawyer who specializes in complicated litigation must have the resources to investigate and prove your case. They must be able to advance the funds that are needed to hire actuarial accountants, accident reconstructionists, economists, private investigators, product engineering specialists, medical experts, trucking industry experts, and more. 

An inexperienced lawyer may not have the funds, sufficient access to resources, financial resources, legal team staffing resources, or the right connections to thoroughly conduct this type of time-consuming, costly, and complex motor vehicle accident case investigation. 

Evaluating Your Attorney 

Choosing an accident lawyer or civil trial lawyer these days has become more personal. Not only do you want a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience, but you want one that has an excellent success rate, personal injury litigation experience, board certification, and someone who will take the time to walk you through the entire legal process. Recommendations from family and friends can be helpful, but in the end, you must rely on your own judgment. 

Most reputable attorneys will not charge for an initial consultation. When you make the appointment you can verify if there’s no charge. Bring all of your documentation with you to get a good feel for how your lawyer will handle your case. Meet with several attorneys before you decide on the one that's right for you.

Every accident case is unique and every attorney-client relationship is just as unique. There are many factors to consider when you’re choosing the right lawyer to fight for you. 

Ask Each Potential Lawyer These Questions 

At the initial consultation, you should ask each potential lawyer questions about your case. Write their answers down and evaluate their answers later on, when you’re comparing each prospective lawyer. 

• What is my claim worth?
• What is your personal injury jury trial experience?
• What is your caseload?
• How long have you been with this personal injury firm?
• If you’re unable to settle my case are you willing to go to trial?
• Will you contact me each time an insurance company or defense attorney makes an offer?
• How long are you anticipating my case taking?
• What are your fees and costs? 
• Do you work on a contingency fee basis?

If you’re not comfortable with the auto accident attorney’s answers or you don’t understand an answer, ask them to elaborate. An experienced car accident attorney should have no trouble going in-depth concerning matters of your case and should feel comfortable explaining the process to accident victims. 

What to Consider After the Consultations

After each consultation, consider how the attorney presented themselves. 

• How did each lawyer measure up? 
• How do you think each one would handle a typical motor vehicle accident case?
• Were they helpful? 
• Did they answer all of your questions? 
• Did they take their time during the consultation or did you feel rushed? 
• Did they seem like an experienced lawyer?
• Did the attorney appear professional? 
• Did you have their undivided attention? If the lawyer isn’t able to give you fifteen minutes of their attention then there’s a good chance they will handle your case the same way. 

• Did the attorney and other staff at the accident law firm seem personable and friendly? 
• Were you comfortable in their office? 

Meet with multiple attorneys to discuss your case and ask yourself these questions after each consultation. This will help you choose a personable, helpful, and experienced attorney who will go that extra mile to fight for you. 

Take Your Time Choosing the Right Auto Collision Lawyer 

While it’s true that you don’t want to put off hiring legal representation, especially if you’re injured and out of work, it’s also important that you don’t make a hasty decision. You need a skilled attorney with experience from a respectable law firm. Compare the answers given by each attorney for your list of questions. In many cases, you will make your final decision based on an auto accident lawyer's personality, their presentation, how much time they were willing to devote to answering your questions, how friendly they were, their experience level, and caseload.

Your decision will also be based on how well you liked the attorney and whether they seemed like a good fit based on their interactions with you. Keep in mind, if your case is complicated, you may find yourself communicating with your attorney several times a week for many months. Because of this, it’s important that you choose a qualified attorney that will advocate on your behalf and one that you can see yourself communicating with often.