Top Benefits of a Car Accident Lawyer
It’s predicted that non-fatal and fatal traffic crash injuries will cost the world economy around $1.8 trillion dollars. If you’ve become the victim of a car crash, you may face new financial burdens. Plus, you may have sustained injuries both physically and emotionally. Sometimes, those injuries can impact your life long after you step out of the vehicle.
Medical costs, missed work, anxiety, and more may result after a bad collision. You need a car accident lawyer on your side to fight for your rights and help you get compensation. However, not all attorneys will be equipped to handle your car accident case. Here are seven factors to consider when you hire a car accident lawyer.
1. Communication Style
A strong quality of an excellent lawyer is their ability to communicate with their clients. You want to find a car accident lawyer that will set clear expectations from the beginning, outline the process, keep you updated, and listen. You also don’t want any details of the case getting lost in translation, such as witness statements, accident details, and other key information.
Another area of communicating is how you communicate. Some people prefer convenient means of communication, like texting or e-mail. Whereas, others would rather talk over the phone.
In fact, texting was often used by lawyers during the pandemic, and it revolutionized the client-lawyer relationship. Therefore, the best car accident lawyer is one that is flexible with their communication methods and around when you need them.
2. Empathetic
When you set up a consultation with a lawyer, you’ll get a good feeling of whether they listen to you well and show compassion. Communication is much more than giving advice; it’s about understanding the client and the case.
You want a legal representative that has a sense of empathy. Car accident victims may be struggling to deal with physical injuries as well as emotional ones. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 39.2% of motor vehicle accident survivors will develop PTSD.
Clients are often dealing with a lot of stress and may feel vulnerable. That’s why you want a lawyer that demonstrates empathy and will be sensitive to your needs.
3. Organized
When you speak to a lawyer face-to-face and see their office, you can often tell at a glance whether they’re organized or not. Disorganized law firms may lead to missed deadlines, long periods of no contact, increased stress, and lost documents.
Therefore, another sign of a great car accident lawyer is impeccable organizational skills. Lawyers must handle a long to-do list each day. There’s a lot to balance from speaking with multiple clients to making court appearances.
Lawyers should be both organized and have excellent time-management skills to juggle it all. An office filled with clutter and stacks of paperwork, difficulty finding documents, or struggling to take calls are all signs they may be disorganized or at least overwhelmed.
4. Positive Reviews and Testimonials
If you’re like 97% of the public, you read reviews on local businesses. Before you schedule a consultation with a local car accident lawyer, you should read reviews and testimonials. These statements from past clients will tell you a lot about a law firm’s strong points and any aspects you may want to avoid.
Reviews can tell you about a lawyer’s sense of professionalism and empathy, their communication skills, and how satisfied the client was concerning their case. Often, you can find client testimonials on a law firm’s website. You can also search for reviews online. Some may be short, but others take time to outline their case, their experience, and how it was resolved.
Take time to read some reviews to see if any mention a situation similar to your own. Keep in mind that consultation can tell you if the lawyer is a good fit and whether they can take your case.
5. Actual Experience in Car Accident Cases
Within the field of personal injury law, you want to find a specialist who deals with car accident cases. When a lawyer specializes in a certain field, you know they’ll have plenty of experience dealing with cases similar to your own.
Why is finding a car crash attorney so important rather than relying on a firm that handles other types of personal injury cases? Because you want someone that knows the steps to take to investigate your case and collect proof to support it. They will:
- Communicate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Obtain evidence to support your case
- Speak with doctors
- Help you prove damages with documentation
- Speak with witnesses
- Organize and present the evidence
You want someone on your side who has gone through all of this before and knows how the process works. For instance, they’ll know that not all injuries are noticeable at first and ensure you get a medical checkup and records as proof. The more cases they’ve handled similar to your own, the better. They can also provide realistic expectations so you are prepared for the upcoming legal proceedings.
6. Knowledgeable of Your Case’s Value
Being in a car accident can result in financial distress. Between the medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, those bills can quickly add up. However, compensation is more than financial costs.
A good lawyer will understand there is compensation for other types of damages pertaining to mental well-being, such as emotional distress or pain and suffering. They should also know where economic damages and non-economic damages fit into the lawsuit. You may be entitled to damages you weren’t even aware existed.
7. Offers a Free Consultation
Not all lawyers offer free consultations, so it can cost you to speak with them even if they can’t represent you. The biggest benefit of free consultations is that you can find a lawyer without paying for that first meeting.
To determine if they can take your case, you’ll need to set up a consultation with a lawyer. During a consultation, you’ll outline your case. This is a good time to learn more about the lawyer, including how well they listen to you and answer questions. If you feel confident after the consultation, you can take the next step.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today
Hopefully, these seven aspects of a car accident lawyer to consider have taught you what to look for when searching. If you’re a victim of a car accident, contact us at Park Accident Attorneys. We offer a free consultation to get started.
