If you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault, you will know that you are getting the best and most successful accident attorney to handle your case. Top car accident attorneys have the skills to get behind your case and push as hard as necessary to get the maximum settlement out of court, even if that means going to trial.
So who is the best and most effective car accident attorney near you? The answer to this question often depends on your specific needs and circumstances. Below are some of the most effective criteria for evaluating personal injury attorneys and choosing the best car accident attorney near you.
What points to consider when choosing the best car accident lawyer?
Below are some of the most important elements to consider when choosing the best personal injury attorney to represent you in your car accident case.
Location
It may seem obvious, but you should always try to find a car accident attorney with an office that is right for your goals. Someone who has an office close to where you live or work. Most personal injury attorneys (including our firm) offer virtual and online consultations, but sometimes you need to physically visit your attorney’s office if you want to file a car accident lawsuit.
Being close to the law office facilitates and speeds up a lot of the administrative work that is done in the case of a car accident. You may need to sign things, or leave medical records that can’t be easily sent by email. All of this can happen faster and more efficiently if your attorney is nearby. Also, obviously, you should choose an attorney who is licensed and regularly handles auto accidents in the area where your case is being filed.
Look for lawyers who focus on car accident cases
You should always look for attorneys or law firms that focus their practice primarily on personal injury cases and especially car accident cases. Handling car accident injury cases requires a specific skill set that is developed through experience over time. So you want someone who has a lot of experience with auto tort cases.
Some attorneys may focus their practice on family or criminal law, but they will accept auto accident cases that come their way. The best car accident attorneys are those who devote most or all of their practice to car accident and personal injury cases. These are the lawyers who can best provide you with the desired results.
Look for car accident attorneys with the resources to handle your case properly
In a car accident injury case, you will be going up against major insurance companies like State Farm, GEICO, or Progressive. These are huge companies with almost unlimited resources. You need a car accident attorney with the staff and resources to fight these big insurance companies and not get overwhelmed.
When shopping for a good car accident attorney, try to look for an attorney or firm that appears to have adequate support staff and other resources. Also ask about their caseload and whether they can devote the appropriate amount of time and attention to your case.
How much will a lawyer charge for your case?
When shopping for a good car accident attorney, you should always consider how much the attorney will cost you. Almost all personal injury lawyers handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means they get a percentage of any money they collect on your case, plus reimbursement for their own costs.
Most car accident attorneys charge a contingency fee of 33-40%, but this is negotiable and some attorneys are willing to lower their contingency fee. Just be careful, though, because car accident lawyers are just like anything else in life. You usually get what you pay for.
One of the things that can make a big difference in how much money you win in your car accident case is how much your attorney will spend on your case costs. Attorneys are reimbursed for your case costs. This is not included in the contingency fee. A good car accident attorney will try to limit the amount of unnecessary costs in your case. You don’t want someone hiring a lot of expensive and potentially unnecessary medical experts.
Questions to help you find the best car accident attorney near you
Once you’ve identified potential auto accident law firms with the right office locations and resources to handle your case, you may need to ask some questions to further refine your search and choose the best one for you. Below are some basic questions to ask when evaluating lawyers and law firms.
What is the law firm’s track record in car accident cases?
A law firm’s track record or recent record of results in other car accident cases is probably the most important fact to consider when evaluating an injury lawyer. A good car accident lawyer or law firm should have a long and proven track record of success and positive results in previous cases. It’s like a win-loss record for a sports team. It may not tell the whole story, but it is the best overall indicator of who is good. Be very wary of random companies that can’t brag about their track record of success.
Has this company handled cases similar to yours in the past?
Another important thing to consider is whether the law firm or attorney has handled previous cases that are very similar to yours. If your car accident case involves a unique type of physical injury, unique liability conditions, or specific insurance companies, you should look for law firms that have handled cases with similar characteristics.
If your accident case involves something unique, such as bullet damage recovery, you may want to look for a firm that has handled that type of damage before and had success with it. If the insurance company in your accident is GEICO, you should find out if the accident law firm has experience handling claims with GEICO.
How much is the lawyer worth your case?
You should always ask how much the attorney thinks your case could be worth. Many car accident attorneys will be very cautious in answering this question and do not expect to get an actual value estimate. But you have to ask anyway. A lawyer has an opinion about the value of your case.
The best car accident attorneys are those who can answer this question by providing a reasonable estimate range and supporting that estimate with evidence-based opinions and comparable prior results.
How often does the company take cases to trial?
When choosing a car accident attorney or law firm, you should look for someone who is willing to try cases. Everyone wants to settle out of court because it’s faster, easier, and usually cheaper. But to get the most money from the insurance company, you have to risk a lawsuit. If your attorney has a reputation for settling cases and fearing a lawsuit, you will receive fewer settlement offers.
Work with the best car accident lawyers
The auto accident attorneys at Miller & Zois work with local counsel in all 50 states on serious auto accident cases. If you have an accident case, call us today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082.