Even minor accidents are difficult experiences. After the dust has settled and you’re back on your feet, your next priority is recouping the money you deserve for medical expenses, car repairs and lost wages. That usually means heading to court. Read on to learn how you can find the best legal representation to tackle your accident case.
Contact Your Insurance Company
The first step after an accident is always to have a consultation with your insurance company. Your insurance provider may have its own team of lawyers and offer you representation for free. They may cover full or partial payment for legal representation as part of your policy. You also need to get all the documents and information you can from your insurance company, including what portion of the damage they are paying for.
Search Yellow Pages or Internet Listings
Once you have squared everything with your insurance company, it’s time to begin your search for an accident lawyer. Internet listings and phonebook yellow pages are great places to start. Social media pages are also a great resource because they often contain reviews and testimonials so you can get a rough idea of a law firm’s capabilities.
Get Multiple Consultations
Most accident attorneys don’t charge a fee for an initial consultation. Make a list of several attorneys that interest you and schedule a visit with each of them. Find out what their fees are and whether they charge if you lose the case. You also want to find out as much as you can about their success rates. Ask how many cases they have taken on, how many years they have been in practice and how many cases they have won.
Consider a Previous Attorney
If you or a friend or family member had a positive experience with an attorney before, consider calling them and asking about your current case. Even if your previous lawyer specializes in a different area of law, they may be able to take on your accident case or provide adjunct consultation. Someone you have worked with previously often has a better understanding of your situation and can offer additional insight.
Once you have decided on legal representation, remember that you and your attorney are a team. It’s important to make sure you don’t miss any meetings with your lawyer and that you’re always honest with him or her. Make sure you keep all your documents organized, follow instructions and answer all questions truthfully.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
