There are currently over 51,000 personal injury law firms employing over 146,000 professionals in the US. Not every personal injury attorney has car wreck experience, though. It’s important to find a car wreck lawyer Houston residents trust.
Otherwise, you might struggle to fight for the compensation you need to cover your losses.
Here are 10 questions to ask before hiring a lawyer. Asking these questions can help you find the best car accident lawyer in Houston.
Their experience and expertise can help maximize your winnings.
Start your search for a car accident lawyer by asking these questions today!
1. How Long Have You Worked as a Lawyer?
First, begin developing a list of car accident lawyers to choose from by turning to your inner circle. Ask your friends and family members if they’ve hired a personal injury lawyer after a car accident. With their help, you can find a car wreck lawyer Houston residents know and trust.
Take the time to ask about their personal experiences working with each attorney, too. Consider creating a list of questions you want to ask beforehand. For example, you might want to learn about the lawyers:
- Experience
- Area of expertise
- Track record
- Professionalism
- Skill set
- Professional connections
Ask each friend about the outcome of their case, too. Was the lawyer able to accomplish their goals? Were they satisfied with the outcome?
If you’re unable to develop a list of lawyers from referrals, that’s okay. Check your local bar association website instead. You can also check the Martindale-Hubbell law firm directory.
Before hiring a lawyer, determine how long each lawyer has worked in the industry. Check their biography to learn about their professional history.
Consider how many cases they’ve handled in that time, too.
Finding a lawyer with years of hands-on experience can help you feel confident in their abilities. If they only recently passed the bar, remove them from your list. Experienced lawyers can rely on their previous experience to strengthen your case.
2. How Long Have You Specialized?
It’s not enough to find a personal injury lawyer with years of general experience. Personal injury attorneys handle a mix of different cases, including:
- Auto accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and falls
- Wrongful deaths
- Premise liability
- Product liability
You can break auto accident cases into different categories, too. A car accident lawyer might handle car, bike, motorcycle, truck, and pedestrian accidents.
Before hiring a lawyer, think about the details surrounding your case. Find an attorney with experience relevant to your needs.
A lawyer who falls under the right specialty will understand the laws and procedures that could impact your lawsuit. Consider how many similar cases they’ve handled over the years.
About 24.8 million people have to visit a physician due to unintentional injuries each year. Another 97.9 million people end up in the emergency room. A personal injury lawyer with relevant experience will have a better understanding of your injuries.
They can discuss your injuries to prove how the car wreck impacted your quality of life and future. Then, they can help you fight for the full amount of compensation you’re due. With their help, you can cover your medical bills and other losses.
3. Do You Have Courtroom Experience?
Remember, you need to find a lawyer with experience relevant to your needs. Unfortunately, you can’t predict if a case will go to court. Make sure each lawyer on your list has years of courtroom experience.
How many cases like yours have gone to court in the past? How many of those cases did they settle out of court instead?
Finding a car accident lawyer with courtroom experience can help you prepare for any situation.
If you find a lawyer who prefers to settle out of court, keep searching. It’s possible the attorney is nervous arguing in front of a judge and jury. They might accept a lowball offer to avoid taking your case to court.
During your consultation appointment, pay attention to how the attorney speaks and holds themselves. Are they confident? Consider if they have strong communication skills as well.
If your case goes to court, you’ll want a lawyer who can speak with confidence in front of a judge and jury. After all, they’ll need to speak on your behalf.
If their communication skills seem lacking, choose a different attorney.
4. What’s Your Success Rate?
A car wreck lawyer Houston residents can trust will have a strong success rate.
Ask each lawyer how many cases they’ve handled overall. Then, determine how many of those cases they’ve won versus lost.
Ask about the cases that are similar to your circumstances, too. Make sure they’ve handled similar cases recently. Then, ask about their track record for those cases.
Consider how much the lawyer was able to win for each lawsuit as well.
Finding a lawyer with a strong success rate can help you feel more confident in their abilities. They’ll likely have an easier time accomplishing your goals.
If they’ve struggled to win cases like yours in the past, they might drop the ball when handling your lawsuit, too.
5. Who Will Work My Case?
During your consultation appointment with each lawyer, determine exactly who will handle your case.
Sometimes, the lawyer you speak with initially will hand your case off to someone else at the firm. Make sure they won’t hand your case off to an inexperienced lawyer or paralegal. Instead, determine exactly who will work on your legal team.
Then, learn more about their experience, expertise, and track record.
6. What Organizations Do You Belong To?
Ask each car accident lawyer if they’re licensed to practice law in the state. Make sure their license is up-to-date by checking your local bar association website.
Otherwise, ask if they belong to any other organizations. Look for active members of national associations.
For example, they might belong to a personal injury law group or trial advocacy group. These organizations could strengthen the lawyer’s expertise. They might know about laws, trial strategies, and techniques that can benefit your case.
Try to find lawyers who are members of the American Association of Justice.
7. How Many Current Cases Are You Handling?
Before hiring a lawyer, ask each attorney how many cases they’re currently handling. If they have a heavy workload, they might not have time to dedicate to your case. Instead, choose a lawyer who can dedicate time and attention to your lawsuit.
Otherwise, they might miss important deadlines or struggle to prepare beforehand.
Remember, there’s also the chance they’ll hand your case off to someone else if they’re too busy.
Determine when they can get started on your case. Make sure the statute of limitations won’t lapse by the time they get started.
Find someone who can give your case the proper attention.
8. Can You Provide References?
If you want to find a car wreck lawyer Houston drivers know and trust, ask for references and reviews. Try to speak with at least three of the lawyer’s most recent clients. If you can, talk to their recent car accident clients specifically.
Ask each client about their experience working with the attorney.
Were they satisfied with the services they received? Ask if they encountered any problems while working with the attorney. If they did, ask if the lawyer strived to fix the problem.
Speaking with other clients can help you find a reliable lawyer. Choosing someone with a strong reputation can give you peace of mind.
Make sure to check online for reviews, too. You can check the law firm’s Better Business Bureau listing. Look for reviews on their Google Business profile as well.
If you see an abundance of negative reviews, scratch that lawyer from your list.
9. How Much Compensation Can I Expect?
About six million car accidents occur in the US every year. Over 90 people die every day as a result.
Meanwhile, about three million people are injured, with two million people sustaining permanent injuries.
About 72% of cases cause property damages, too.
The details of your case can impact how much you’re able to receive from your lawsuit. During your consultation, discuss the details surrounding your case. Then, ask each lawyer how they would proceed with your legal strategy.
Find someone with an analytical mindset who can use the details of your case to determine the best course of action. Then, ask them how much you might win from your case.
Don’t choose a lawyer who gives you a guarantee. They can’t predict the outcome of your case.
Instead, they should be able to look at your personal injuries, lost wages, and property damage to get an estimate of your losses.
10. What Fee Structure Do You Use?
Finally, ask each car accident lawyer about their fee structure. Try finding attorneys who work on a contingency fee basis. They’ll only expect payment if they win your lawsuit.
Even if they win, you’ll only pay them a percentage of your winnings.
Ask each lawyer for a copy of their contract as well. Then, review your notes to make an informed final choice.
Fight for Compensation: 10 Questions to Ask a Car Wreck Lawyer, Houston
Take the time to ask these 10 questions before choosing a car wreck lawyer, Houston. Asking these questions can help you find a capable, experienced attorney. They can improve the outcome of your case.
With their help, you can fight for the compensation you need to cover your losses.
Want to discuss your case with a member of our team? We’re here to help.
Call us today to schedule your free consultation.