14 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer

For many people, the jarring event of being involved in a motor vehicle collision is a first. When you’re injured in that collision, it only adds to the stress and uncertainty of what steps to take next. 

Consulting with a personal injury attorney to explore representation is one of the best ways to get help navigating this process; however, there are questions you should ask before deciding to move forward with representation. 

For more information regarding what to ask a lawyer before hiring them, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863 5312. Your initial consultation is 100% free  and you will not pay us anything unless we are successful in winning your case.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU PRACTICED PERSONAL INJURY LAW IN MY STATE?

Each state has different laws and regulations when it comes to car accident claims. 

The statute of limitations, for example, for cases involving a motor vehicle in Colorado is 3 years, whereas the statute of limitations for the same case would be 2 years in Texas. 

Thus, it is important that your car accident attorney has practiced personal injury in the state in which you are filing your lawsuit.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RESOLVE MY CASE?

The length of time it will take to resolve your case will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of your injuries, who is liable for the car accident, and type of accident incurred. 

After meeting with an attorney, he or she should be able to give you a better timeline for how long it will take to resolve your case.

HAVE YOU HAD SIMILAR CASES BEFORE?

It is common for smaller law firms or solo practitioners to practice anything from family law to criminal law, and to hold themselves out as able to handle motor vehicle collision cases. 

These jack of all trades firms can be beneficial when you need legal advice for several different issues, but when it comes to a car wreck, you want someone who is familiar with how insurance companies work and the common tactics they deploy to try and save money. 

DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN AUTO ACCIDENTS?

While firms and attorneys that practice multiple areas of law might be able to handle your case and get you a satisfactory outcome, firms that solely practice personal injury and handle motor vehicle collisions may be able to better advise you on how to move forward since this is all they do.  

Firms that, day in and day out, deal with insurance companies, insurance adjusters, defense counsel, and victims of car collisions, have the experience to move your case forward efficiently and effectively.

WHAT’S THE ESTIMATE OF MY POTENTIAL COMPENSATION? 

The right attorney should also be able to give you a better understanding of your potential compensation amounts. Although it is unlikely that they will be able to tell you exact figures or numbers, as compensation amounts will vary drastically from case to case and depend on many factors. 

These factors include the extent of your physical injuries, property damage, and emotional distress, among others. 

WILL MY CASE GO TO TRIAL? WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE AT TRIAL?

You should also make sure to ask about your attorney’s success rate at trial, as there is always a chance your car accident case could be brought to court. At Zinda Law Group, we have a winning track record for both trial and pretrial settlements, as we bring experience, preparation, and aggressive representation to all our cases. 

In total, we have won our clients approximately $6,500,000 in wrongful death claims following a motor vehicle collision and $1,400,000 in broken bone claims following a motor vehicle collision. See more of our results here.   

SHOULD I PURSUE THE CASE?

It is also ideal to ask whether you should pursue the case you have brought to the attorney. In certain situations, it may not be advisable to do so. 

For instance, if you did not suffer from any kind of damages as the result of another person’s negligence, there would be no benefit to seeking legal action.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FILE A LAWSUIT?

An attorney should also be able to answer how long it will take to file your lawsuit. In some cases, a lawsuit can be filed right away, while more complicated cases may take more time. 

Further, the attorney can help explain the legal time limit for filing a lawsuit, referred to as the statute of limitations.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?

It is always important to ask about fees before hiring an attorney, as these costs can add up. Attorneys may require expensive retainers before beginning work on your case, charge by the hour, or work on a contingency fee basis. 

Working on a contingency fee basis means that you do not pay anything unless the attorney is successful in winning your case. At Zinda Law Group, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.

WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CASE-RELATED COSTS?

Before hiring an attorney, be sure to ask if you will be responsible for any case-related costs. The answer to this question will depend on how the firm receives payment. 

For instance, if you are working with an attorney on an hourly-fee basis, you will likely be responsible for all case-related costs as they arise; however, if your attorney is working on a contingency fee basis, you will not be responsible for the costs as they arise. Instead, you will only pay the attorney a percentage of the overall settlement amount.

WHO WILL HANDLE MY CASE?

When hiring an attorney, it is crucial to know who will actually be handling your case. Although you may meet with senior staff in an initial meeting, that doesn’t always guarantee that is who will be working on your specific case. 

There will also likely be a variety of facets in your case that may need additional experts to properly handle your claim.   

WILL YOU BE WORKING ON MY CASE?

As discussed above, it is important to know who will actually be working on your case. You may believe you are hiring a senior partner, when in fact your case will be given to an attorney with substantially less experience working on car accident cases.

WHAT’S YOUR LEGAL PHILOSOPHY & STYLE?

One of the most common issues to arise between clients and their attorneys is the feeling of a lack of communication and accessibility. At Zinda Law Group, we recognize that communication and accessibility with our clients is vitally important. We have taken steps to make sure that our client’s questions and communications don’t get lost in the shuffle. 

The legal philosophy and style of a firm is important to know so you are not unhappy working with a firm in the long run. At Zinda Law Group, we pride ourselves on a commitment to client satisfaction, personalized representation, individualized attention, and fast and efficient results.

HOW MUCH TIME CAN YOU DEVOTE TO MY CASE?

It is also important to know how much time your attorney can devote to your specific case. At Zinda Law Group, our attorneys are committed to each one of our clients on an individual level. 

Our firm handles a low volume of cases, which allows our attorneys to put the individualized time and attention needed into each one of our cases. Further, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NEED HELP? CONTACT ZINDA LAW GROUP TODAY

Call a Zinda Law Group personal injury attorney today at (800) 863 5312 to set up your free initial consultation. You do not have to worry about paying us anything unless we are able to win you compensation in your case. That is our “No Win, No Fee Guarantee.”