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There are many important questions to ask a Rutherfordton car accident lawyer before you hire them. The outcome of your case is important, and so is the choice you make when hiring legal counsel. You should learn as much as possible about a potential personal injury attorney before hiring them.
The following questions for your car accident attorney will provide you with details on their background, the strength of your case, and what to expect throughout this process. Making an informed decision is crucial to your case’s outcome.
What Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
While an auto accident attorney cannot promise you any specific amount, they can answer your questions about potential compensation. They can also inform you about the types of economic and non-economic damages you might be entitled to recover, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
- Wrongful death (if you lost a loved one in a car accident)
How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?
This question also does not have a simple answer. A personal injury attorney cannot guarantee how long it will take to resolve your claim. No two cases are alike, and many factors can slow things down. However, your lawyer should be able to give you a rough estimate of what timeline to expect.
Settlements can happen in a few weeks if the liable party and their insurance company accept responsibility. After sending a demand letter to the at-fault party, your attorney might be able to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance adjuster before a lawsuit becomes necessary.
On the other hand, some cases can take months or even years. When litigation becomes necessary, all involved parties may need ample time to conduct discovery, sit for depositions, and work through a trial.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
What Is Your Experience With Car Accident Cases?
One of the most important questions you can ask is about a prospective attorney’s background. There are many different types of lawyers, and not all of them will be the best fit for your case. You deserve legal counsel with extensive experience handling car accident lawsuits.
Experience is more than the time a person spends practicing law. For example, someone with 30 years of experience may not be much help if they spent most of that time handling estate planning matters. You need relevant experience from someone who has handled many car accident claims.
How Much Trial Experience do You Have in Car Accident Cases?
There are different ways to approach a car accident injury case. Some lawyers are content to contact the insurance company and reach a settlement as soon as possible. Avoiding a trial saves time, but it might not always be in your best interests.
Trial experience is a good metric to consider. It shows that a lawyer is not afraid to reject a lowball settlement offer and take a case to trial if they believe that is the best chance for fair compensation.
When personal injury attorneys prepare as if every case will go to trial, they are not only in a better position when they do, but they also have potential leverage when negotiating a settlement.
Have You Ever Handled a Car Accident Case Similar to Mine?
Car accidents can occur under countless circumstances. They can involve a single vehicle or multi-car pileup. They might result from human error or a mechanical defect. Because of these differences, it is worth asking an attorney if they have ever handled a case similar to yours.
If they have, you know they have some hands-on experience relevant to your case. You can also learn how they approached that case, what the result was, and what they might do differently this time.
Will You Handle My Car Accident Case Directly or Hand it Off to Someone Else?
Personal injury law firms come in all shapes and sizes. Some have solo practitioners who handle everything themselves, while others are large businesses that assign multiple lawyers across many different files. You deserve to know if the attorney you are speaking with will be actively involved in your case or if someone else will handle it under their supervision.
You can also ask about the role that paralegals and administrative staff will play in your case. Some attorneys are more hands-on than others.
What do You Charge to Handle a Car Accident Case?
It is always important to be on the same page with your auto accident attorney regarding their fees. No one wants to go through the process of resolving an injury case, only to learn that there was a misunderstanding about costs.
Personal injury lawyers generally take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means they will work on your claim without asking for any fees upfront. They only get paid if they recover damages on your behalf, and their payment comes from your settlement or judgment.
This approach means they only get paid when you do, but every attorney sets their own contingency rate. Be sure to ask for specifics about these rates and if there is a scenario where the percentage could change.
What Is the Deadline for Filing My Car Accident Lawsuit?
In general, you have three years from the accident date to file a car accident lawsuit in North Carolina (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52) or South Carolina (S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530). However, the deadline may change based on unique circumstances. Be sure to ask your lawyer what the statute of limitations is for your case so you can ensure you file your lawsuit on time.
Take Advantage of a Free Car Accident Case Consultation
These are only a few of the questions you can ask a car accident lawyer before hiring them. Your choice is important, as your lawyer can dramatically impact the outcome of your case. Taking advantage of a free consultation to ask these questions before signing on with a firm is a good idea.
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we look forward to meeting with you and discussing your motor vehicle accident case. We are proud of our work advocating for injury victims, and we are ready to help you get the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
