After an auto accident, your top priority may be to find a way to reduce the stress of the situation, deal with medical bills and any damages you incurred. One of the most important parts of recovery is ensuring the at-fault party is held responsible. To do this, it is recommended that you hire a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer. The right attorney will help ensure you secure fair compensation for injuries and other losses after a car accident. The question is, how do you find the right attorney? While this can be tricky, there are some tips you can use to find the right legal representation for your car accident claim. One of the most important things to do is to ask the right questions. Keep reading to find out what these questions are.
1. Do You Have the Time to Handle My Case?
Quality lawyers know they have limits, and they know what these limits are. It is only possible for a person to dedicate so much of their time, energy, and expertise to the work they do. The right lawyer for your car accident case will not take on another client if they do not have the time to give to their case.
If you investigate a one-person firm, availability may be an issue. You can avoid availability issues by choosing a bigger firm with several lawyers available.
In the end, regardless of what type of firm you choose, make sure the legal professionals have the time to understand the details of your case and provide you with quality representation.
2. What and How Does the Attorney Charge You?
Today, most car accident attorneys work on contingency fees. This means you only pay them if you successfully recover compensation for your injuries and damages.
If you successfully recover monetary damages for your case, your car accident attorney will receive a percentage of the total compensation. Usually, this ranges between 25% and 40%.
Be sure to understand the attorney’s qualifications before hiring them. While the attorney may state their fee is just 25%, it may mean they do not have the necessary qualifications to handle your car accident claim.
3. Who Will be Working on Your Case?
Some people are surprised to learn that after spending time vetting and hiring the right attorney, the case is being handled by a paralegal or junior partner. In most cases, paralegals and junior partners are completely qualified to handle the situation; however, it is best to ask and know who will handle your case from the beginning.
4. How Long Will It Take to Settle Your Car Accident Case?
It can be frustrating to wait months to settle your car accident case. Unfortunately, there is no way an attorney can give you a definite timeline for how long your case will take to settle. While this is true, this is still a good question to ask. Most attorneys can provide a general answer based on prior experience.
5. Has the Attorney Handled Cases Similar to Yours in the Past?
Expertise and experience are essential considerations when handling any legal matter. After all, you would never hire a plumber to fix your wiring. The same applies to hiring an attorney. You need someone who has represented similar accident cases in the past.
Be sure you ask the lawyer about the cases they have represented in the past and see if their experience meets your needs. You should also ask about their success rate. A strong record of successful cases indicates this is a dedicated, knowledgeable attorney who can help with your case.
6. Will You Have to Pay Case-Related Costs if it is Unsuccessful?
Some attorneys will charge you for related costs to your case, along with the contingency fee. Be sure to find out who will have to cover these out-of-pocket costs if the case is unsuccessful.
7. Does the Case Have a Good Chance of Success?
To receive damages from your car accident case, you have to show the accused person was negligent and that they breached their duty of care by not acting with a certain level of care. You must also prove this is the reason the accident occurred. If you do not have a strong enough case, it would probably be better to settle with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Ask your attorney if they believe your case will be successful.
Finding the Right Attorney for Your West Palm Beach Car Accident Claim
If you want to recover a fair amount of compensation after being involved in a car accident, it is imperative that you hire the right attorney. While this can be confusing at first, when you ask the questions above, you can feel confident when you finally choose someone to help you recover the damages and compensation you deserve.
Do you want to schedule a free consultation? If so, contact our West Palm Beach team of attorneys by calling 561-845-2510.
For Additional Information:
How To Find A Good Personal Injury Lawyer in Florida
Pain and Suffering Damages in a Florida Personal Injury Case
