Have you recently been injured in a car accident? Although the insurance company may be willing to pay for the damages to your vehicle and for your initial doctor’s visit, you may have trouble getting enough money to support your full recovery. Therefore, you need a great car accident lawyer. Finding a great lawyer will require more than searching, “Fort Collins auto accident attorney.”
Referrals
Your first step in finding a great attorney is to ask your friends, family members and colleagues if they have had experience with an auto accident attorney. In addition, legal professionals can be a great resource. Therefore, you may also ask any lawyers you have used in the past, including those for other issues, such as family or tax law problems.
Communication
After you have narrowed down your choices, you will call the attorneys on your prospect list. They may speak with you at length on the phone or ask you to come in for a consultation. In either case, you want to pay attention to their communication. First, what is their preferred method? Did they appear to be doing something else while talking to you, or did they give you their undivided attention? Also, were they open about the process and fees? Did they tell you about their support staff or financial resources?
However, you don’t want to spend hours with the attorney. You want someone who is focused, direct, clear and concise. You should understand everything about the case and your chances of winning. You should also understand all the documentation you will need to provide to prove your case.
Your prospective lawyers should discuss their preferred communication method and how often you should expect to hear from them. They should tell you how long it will take them to return your calls or emails. Although you don’t want to waste their time, verify that your prospective lawyers will return your calls in the time they stated during your consultation.
Environment
Your lawyer’s office should be organized and comfortable. No desk should be covered in piles of files or other paperwork. They should be clean.
The office should have other legal professionals and a receptionist who greets you immediately upon your entry. Watch the staff as you wait for your consultation. Are they shuffling through different files, do they appear overworked and how quickly are they answering the phone?
Experience
Ask your prospective attorneys about their educations, experience in trial and auto accident law and track record. You don’t want to accrue fees that will not lead to a winning case. In addition, ask what associations, certifications and licenses they have.
References
Request references, and then check these references. Also, check online reviews, including the law firm’s professional website and peer review systems, such as the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry. Although these reviews may be mixed, look for the attorney’s responses to both positive and negative reviews.
You don’t want to spend your recovery time worrying about how you will pay for your medical and other bills. If you choose a great attorney to fight for you, you will be free to focus on your recovery and let the lawyer worry about making sure you are compensated for your auto accident injury.
