If you suffered one or more injuries resulting from an auto collision, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case. A state-licensed attorney can help you file a persuasive insurance claim, as well as represent you during a civil lawsuit.
Finding the right auto accident attorney is not as easy as it appears. You have to know what to look for when hiring legal counsel and how to look when you conduct your search.
What Should I Look for in a Car Accident Attorney?
With several car accident lawyers practicing in the area, how do you differentiate between the large number of legal support options?
Experience Matters
Experience matters, but only if the experience includes a proven record of getting clients just compensation for the injuries caused by a vehicle crash. An attorney with considerable experience knows how to gather and organize evidence, as well as help clients quickly process insurance claims. Above all, experience matters if you take your case to trial during a personal injury lawsuit.
You want results, and an experienced car accident lawyer with years of experience can make that happen.
Practices Personal Injury Law
Specifically, you want to work with legal counsel that helps clients recover monetary damages for car accident cases. Vehicle crashes present different issues than the issues presented by other types of personal injury law. Collecting evidence requires conducting a detailed investigation that includes examining photos of the crash scene and interviewing witnesses that verify your version of events.
You do not want to hire legal counsel that dabbles in personal injury law.
Handles Your Case from Start to Finish
One of the first questions to ask every attorney on your shortlist of candidates should be, “Will you be working my case from start to finish.” A personal injury lawyer might show up at the free case evaluation, only to disappear for the duration of your case. Some personal injury lawyers delegate caseload work to paralegals or other administrative professionals. You want your car accident attorney to represent you the entire time you seek compensation for your injuries.
Works on a Contingency Fee Basis
Filing a civil lawsuit can cost you more money than you can afford in legal representation if you work with a car accident lawyer who charges by the hour. The personal injury attorneys at Schiff & Associates charge on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid after you get paid. Whether we negotiate a settlement or win a favorable judgment at trial, you do not have to pay any upfront fees.
Our transparency when it comes to legal fees makes us the most trusted law firm in central Ohio.
What Resources Do I Have to Search for a Car Accident Lawyer?
How to find the right car accident lawyer starts the old-school way before you take your search online.
Network with Friends and Family Members
Networking with trusted friends and family members for a personal injury lawyer recommendation can connect you with the right legal counsel for your case. If you strike out with close friends and relatives, take your networking outside your inner circle by asking neighbors and professional colleagues for recommendations.
Ask an Attorney for a Recommendation
Lawyers represent one of the best sources for referrals. Attorneys spend time interacting with lawyers that practice other types of law. For example, you might know an estate planning attorney who can refer you to an Ohio-licensed personal injury lawyer. Just make sure the legal counsel recommended to you by a lawyer meets the search criteria we discussed above.
Ohio Bar Association
Now we take your search online at the website of the Ohio Bar Association. Like other state bar associations, the Ohio Bar Association maintains a large database of attorneys that practice every type of law. Access the Ohio Bar Association web page devoted to helping potential clients find legal representation. You can narrow your search to include geographic and other types of factors.
Client Reviews
Online client reviews should provide you with supporting information for the research you have already conducted. Sites such as Yelp and Google present client reviews to help you decide on the best legal representation for your car accident case. You also should check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page for every car accident lawyer on your shortlist of candidates.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
You have a limited amount of time to start litigation of your auto collision case. In Ohio, you have two years from the day of the accident to file a civil lawsuit. Contact us today to start the auto accident litigation process.