Pedestrian accidents occur every day in the United States, often resulting in serious injuries or even death. If you’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, it’s important to hire an attorney who has proven experience with pedestrian accident cases and who will aggressively fight to protect your rights as you go through this difficult time in your life. Here are some things to look out for when trying to find the best pedestrian accident attorney in your area.
Look for an experienced pedestrian accident attorney:
Choosing a pedestrian accident attorney can be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make after a car accident. Not only do you have to find an attorney who’s qualified and experienced in pedestrian accidents, you also have to find someone who is willing to represent your best interests.
The last thing you want is for an inexperienced attorney representing your interests and costing you more money in the long run. You should ask for references from other clients or past employers to ensure that the lawyer is knowledgeable about pedestrian accidents.
You may also want to contact a personal injury lawyer referral service, which will provide you with referrals from members of their own network of lawyers. In many states, these services are free or charge just a nominal fee so it doesn’t cost anything to find out if they can help you with your search.
Look for an attorney who works on a contingency fee basis:
When you are looking for an attorney, it is important that you get one who works on a contingency fee basis. This will ensure that you don’t have to pay anything upfront and only pay when you win your case.
You want to work with an attorney who has been successful in the past with cases like yours. A company or organization like this would be ideal because they can help you find a lawyer in your area.
You want to make sure you interview at least three different attorneys so that you can compare rates and experience levels of each of them before deciding which one to hire. The last thing you want to do is pick the first person you talk to because there may be someone out there who could better serve your needs.
Make sure that you ask any questions you may have about their process, what they charge and how much time it might take to complete your case.
It is always good to speak with people who were satisfied with their services as well as those who weren’t so happy with theirs.
Look for an attorney who has a good reputation:
When you are looking for an attorney, it is important to look for someone with a good reputation. A lawyer’s reputation can tell you what kind of person they are and how they will represent your interests.
You want an attorney who is knowledgeable and willing to fight hard for your rights and compensation.
Ideally, you want someone who has been practicing law for more than 20 years, as this means they have had a lot of time to get good at what they do.
Ask friends and family for recommendations:
One of the best ways to find a good attorney is to ask friends and family for recommendations. They can tell you about attorneys they know who are good at what they do, and may be able to share some insight on what happened in their cases that led them to file suit.
Schedule a consultation with the attorney:
A good place to start is by talking with a lawyer. Consider meeting with several attorneys before selecting one. The consultation should be free and there shouldn’t be any pressure on you to hire them.
You can ask the attorney about their experience, how they charge for their services, what type of cases they typically take on and whether they are a good fit for your needs. Once you have decided who you want to work with, it’s time to get down to business!
Conclusion
Injured? You need an experienced lawyer! Hiring an inexperienced lawyer might mean not getting the compensation you deserve because he or she will not know how to build your case.
Not all lawyers have your best interests at heart. Make sure that any money you pay is going towards legitimate services and make sure the lawyer has experience handling pedestrian accident cases before hiring him or her.
Some law firms advertise themselves as pedestrian injury attorneys, but actually only handle DUI cases. Others use terms like walkers or pedestrians as well. It’s important to understand which type of practice a potential firm focuses on so you can better evaluate if it’s right for you.