5 Questions to Ask a Car Accident Attorney Before Hiring

In 2018, there were approximately 152,847 total car accident injuries in Canada. Unfortunately, many people struggle when deciding when to get an attorney after a car accident.

The answer will vary depending on your case. With that said, below are five questions you should ask when hiring a car accident attorney.

     1. How Many Years of Experience Do You Have as a Car Accident Attorney?

When seeking a car accident injury attorney, you should first ask them about their years of experience. These questions help you get to know them and see if they are the right fit for your unique case.

You should ask them questions that outline specific details of previous cases. Their answers will not only tell you their level of experience but how they approach legal cases.

Asking them how many car accident cases they take or settle each year is a good question to start with. You can gauge how comfortable they are with this area of practice and see how they respond to the challenges they pose.

     2. Is My Case Worth Pursuing?

Regardless of your situation, you want to ensure that you find the best car accident attorney for your case. Any decent lawyer will always be honest with you regarding the facts of your case. In some instances, your case may not be worth pursuing.

For example, in car accidents where you are partly at fault, you may not get the compensation you believe you’re entitled to. Less trustworthy lawyers will often encourage you to pursue your case for the sake of financial gain.

Evaluating each part of your case with the lawyer is suggested before hiring them. This question allows you to properly assess the merit of your case outside of their professional opinion.

     3. What Damages Can I Claim?

Car accidents result in a variety of physical and psychological damages. These include loss of income, medical bills, property damages to your vehicle, and emotional trauma.

You should ask your car accident attorney how they would devise a plan to ensure you are fully compensated. To do this, the lawyer would need to fully understand the extent of damages the accident caused.

     4. Have You Represented Cases Similar to Mine?

When pursuing different personal injury lawyers, you should ask them if they have ever personally represented a case similar to yours. This may include representing people with similar injuries or the actual accident itself.

Ideally, you should look for lawyers who have in-field experience working on car accident cases. Real-world situations are often different than what is taught in school. If you’re comparing education to in-field experience the latter will always prevail.

     5. How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Case?

Your case may not be as easily resolvable as you think. In some cases, insurance companies may offer payouts to settle the case out of court. Any lawyer worth their credentials will review all your options before advising you on the best path to take.

Sometimes, cases take years to resolve. You and your lawyer may find that the compensation you would receive is not worth the time. Of course, this will vary depending on your personal preference and the facts of your case.

Representing Your Case

Starting your search for a qualified car accident attorney begins with the answers to these five questions. Once answered, you will be able to confidently decide on the best attorney and firm for your case.

Going forward, if you would like to learn more about legal representation, check out the lifestyle section of our site.