By Arnab Dey
Being involved in a car accident is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can have in their life. The incident can impact your mental and physical health long-term, resulting in changes in the quality of your life. Some people might not even recover from the accident.
You should immediately work with an auto accident injury lawyer after being involved in an auto accident. They can have the experience to represent you in court, handle insurance companies, determine the amount of your compensation, and support your claim with evidence. All of these can help you get back on track and continue living life again.
Here are five questions to ask your auto accident, injury lawyer:
1. How Much Do You Charge?
Being injured in an auto accident will probably take a toll on your finances. The more severe your injuries are, the more money you’ll have to spend on medicines and hospitalizations.
Money will be an important (and often scarce) resource after the accident, so make sure to ask how much the auto accident injury lawyer will charge you. This question is two-fold, so inquire if the lawyer will charge various fees throughout the process and what percentage of the settlement they will take.
Inquire if the auto accident injury lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, as well. These lawyers only get paid if you win, which means that you don’t have to worry about spending more if you do lose your case.
2. How Long Do I Have To File My Lawsuit?
If you have been severely injured because of the accident, filing a case weeks after might not be possible. You’ll likely need time to recover.
When working with an auto accident injury lawyer, ask how long you have to file a lawsuit. It is a critical question because laws concerning auto accidents and personal injury cases vary from one state to another. Working with a lawyer who can’t provide you with a direct and accurate answer to this question is a waste of resources.
When you know the deadline, you can allocate time to recover and ensure that you can still file your lawsuit before the deadline. Being well-equipped with this information can significantly reduce your stress.
3. Who Will Be Working On My Case?
The process of filing lawsuits is draining, and having surprises along the way can make the experience worse. For example, finding out that your case will be handled by paralegals or junior attorneys, not the lawyer who met during consultation.
It’s important to know who will handle your case, so make sure to ask your auto accident injury lawyer. As you’re speaking with an auto accident injury lawyer, ask if they’ll be the same persons handling your case or if someone else from their firm will do it for you.
4. How Will You Update Me On The Progress Of My Case?
Lawsuits can take months or years to process, and not knowing whether it’s making progress or not is stressful. It is especially true if you’re in dire need of compensation.
Communication is vital throughout the case, which is why you should inquire from your auto accident injury lawyer how they will update you. Will they send you an email whenever your case makes progress in court? Or will they meet you in person to discuss any progress? These questions will help set your expectations and minimize problems along the way.
5. Who At The Legal Firm Will Be My Contact Person?
Short-term memory loss is common following a car accident. Injured individuals often forget what happened during the incident and only remember details after a few days or weeks.
You may want to talk to someone if you remember a piece of information concerning the case. It is one of the reasons why you should have a contact person from the firm whom you can easily reach. This person can be the auto accident injury lawyer, a paralegal, or a junior associate.
Ask the auto accident injury lawyer who your contact person is, so you’ll know who to call whenever you have concerns or queries. Knowing who your contact person is can speed up the process and lessen any inconveniences throughout the case.
Make Careful Decisions
The outcome of your auto accident case can change your life, which is why you need to be very careful about the auto accident injury lawyer you’ll work with. Instead of getting the compensation you deserve, the wrong lawyer will only cause more stress and cost more money.
Consider this article as your guide when you work with an auto accident injury lawyer. You’ll have better chances of winning your case if you know what to expect from your lawyer.
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