After you’ve been injured in a car accident, the idea of negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company can be terrifying. Like most people, you probably have never filed a claim like this before and aren’t well-versed in the Colorado legal system. Rather than go through it alone, consider hiring an auto accident attorney who can help you.
Hiring the right attorney can make a difference in the amount of compensation you will receive. Proper planning and research can help you pick the attorney that’s best for your case. To get you started, here are some helpful tips for hiring a car accident lawyer in Colorado.
Research Potential Attorneys Beforehand
Spending a little time online can help you narrow down options before you even get started. If you received any referrals from friends and family, look them up online. Start with the firm’s website where you can usually find client testimonials and case results. Then, look for online reviews, and check the Colorado State Bar’s website to verify whether they have any disciplinary actions.
You can also look for industry certifications, like Super Lawyers, Avvo ratings, or Martindale Peer Reviews. If you are not finding a lot of information, try searching the web for the attorney’s name. Sometimes you can find cases they were involved in, community involvement, published articles or papers, etc.
Prepare a List of Questions
You want to prepare a list of essential questions you want answers to.The more you prepare, the better answers you might be able to get. You should be thinking about issues like:
- Will you be the attorney assigned to my case, or will someone else in your firm be primarily handling it?
- What is your communication policy on how quickly you return client correspondence and phone calls?
- What do you see the potential value of my case being?
- What are the strength and weaknesses of my case?
- What is your fee schedule? Am I responsible for any upfront costs?
Asking each firm the same questions and taking notes can help you narrow down which attorney is right for your case.
Choose a Car Accident Attorney with Experience
You want to choose an attorney who has experience handling cases similar to yours. If your car accident could be considered complex, you need a lawyer who has taken similar cases to trial. Maybe your case involves a multi-car pile-up, serious injuries, or a possibly defective product claim because something failed on your vehicle. You don’t want a firm that only handles personal injury cases once in a while or an attorney who doesn’t have any trial experience.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
Once you’ve met with your top firms, read back through your notes and decide who is best suited to handle your case. Be sure to choose an attorney who is likable and has a good personality. Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable around them, how do you expect a jury to like them if your case goes to trial? Hiring a car accident lawyer doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little preparation and research, you’ll find the firm that’s right for you.
Comments 1
Thanks for pointing out that communication policies are important to discuss when hiring a car accident attorney. A friend of mine is currently stuck in a hospital while her injuries from a car accident is still being tested if there are small fractures on her bones that may have been overlooked. I think getting to be able to remotely have a meeting with a car accident attorney while she is still not discharged will make settling the legal ramifications of the accident a lot faster.