Have you or someone you know been in a car accident lately? If so, it’s important to know exactly what to do and whom to turn to when it happens. A road accident attorney can help you get the compensation you need from the responsible party, but there are certain questions that you need to ask yourself before hiring an attorney.
These five questions will not only help you figure out if an attorney is needed, but also which attorneys to reach out to with any legal matters relating to road accidents.
Here are the five w’s of your situation and how they’ll impact your decision-making process!
1) What is a personal injury attorney?
A personal injury attorney is an attorney who helps people who have been physically injured through an accident or through the negligence of another person or company.
These attorneys can help with issues such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you have been in a car accident, for example, your lawyer will gather information about what happened and about the injuries you sustained.
They will work with experts to determine if there are grounds for a lawsuit. If there are grounds for a lawsuit, your lawyer will file suit on your behalf and work to get compensation for all damages caused by the defendant.
The five w’s you need to know before hiring a personal injury attorney:
- What kind of legal assistance do you need?
- Who was involved in the incident that led to your injury?
- Was this incident deliberate?
- What does it cost to hire an attorney for a case like this?
- How long will my case take?
2) What should I do after an accident?
After an accident, you should always call the police and have the other driver’s license number or insurance information in order to file a report.
In addition, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible if you are injured. Take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle and your injuries.
It can also be helpful to document what happened by writing down how the accident occurred as soon as possible after it happened.
For example, were there witnesses? Did anyone admit fault? Do you know how fast both drivers were going at the time of impact? Were either of them intoxicated or distracted? Were any lights out on the road surface?
If so, who was driving on which side of the road when they collided head-on? Was one car making a turn when they collided with another car?
Where was each person sitting in their car before the collision took place – front seat, backseat, passenger side vs driver side – and where did they end up after the collision took place?
3) Will my personal injury lawyer go against me?
The good news is that personal injury attorneys are not looking for a fight, they are looking for an accident victim.
They want to help you get the compensation that you deserve, so there is no need to worry about your personal injury lawyer being on the other side of the battle.
What matters most is that you choose someone who will work hard to get the settlement or verdict that you need and deserve.
Make sure you understand what kind of support and services your attorney offers and if they have a trial background before signing up with them because their success rates can vary drastically depending on their area of expertise.
4) How can i get help for my car accident lawyer?
If you’ve been in a car accident, you’ll want to know about the following five things before making any decisions.
- What type of injury have you sustained?
- Who caused the accident?
- Were there any witnesses?
- What does your insurance cover for injuries, property damage and medical bills?
- How do we get started with an attorney?
By answering these questions, you can better understand what your legal rights are so that you can make the best decision possible.
5) How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers represent people who have been injured due to the negligence of another person.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be costly and time-consuming, as you’ll need to hire someone with expertise in the area of law and have them help you navigate the legal system.
However, hiring a personal injury lawyer may be worth it if you’re looking for someone who will keep up with your case and do everything they can to get you as much compensation as possible.
If you’re not sure whether or not you should hire a personal injury lawyer, ask yourself these five questions first:
- How much money are you looking to make from the settlement?
- What is the severity of your injuries?
- How long do you expect this case to take?
- Who would handle my day-to-day needs while I’m out of work?
- How important is it that I speak with my attorney directly every day during this process?
In most cases, it costs around $500 per hour or more. If you’re not sure how long your case will take, try and get a ballpark estimate from your attorney based on what similar cases have taken in your area.
Also ask if they handle workers’ compensation, or if you’ll need to hire a different lawyer for that portion of your case. Make sure you get a detailed breakdown of all fees up front before signing any documents or retainer agreements.