How to Find the Right Car Accident Attorney for You

Before you look up car accident attorneys, know what you're looking for

Before you even start doing searches it will pay off to have a good idea of the qualities and terms you are looking for in a car accident attorney. This may differ a little according to your case, your personality, your area of the country, even.

These questions will give you a framework for a list you can check off:

• Evaluate the complete team of staff, not just the partners or people who make up the public face of the law firm. Keep in mind as you research and interact with the firm that it may not be the same person you speak with initially who will be your primary contact.


• Firm age, size, experience. Awards and leadership roles in organizations can also be good indicators.


• Good judicial connections: Find out if they participate in the local bar association and contribute to campaigns.


• Comfort with going to trial: Find out how many of their cases go to trial and the success rate of those that do. Some lawyers will have this information posted on their websites.


• Have they tried or settled similar cases in your city or county? Do they have an office near you?

• Look for experience with your type of case specifically.


• Negotiation ability: What sort of settlements they have obtained (remember, 95% of personal injury cases are settled without trial). Again, some car accident attorneys will have this information posted on their websites.


• Your personal comfort with the lawyer. This can be a big one.


• Timing: Are they too busy to devote enough time to your case? Can you get a sense of how long their cases are taking?


• Past problems: Has the attorney ever been censured or disciplined by any legal or ethics committees in the past? You will want to look this up before contacting them, so you don't waste your time.


• Past client reviews: Be alert to what others say about them, especially on independent review sites.

Ask friends and family

Talk to people in your personal and work network. See who has worked with a personal injury attorney before, preferably also on a car accident case. If you get a good referral to an attorney, put him or her on your list.

But do not decide to go with an attorney just based upon someone else's word.

Different people will have different reactions to an attorney. You want to talk to the attorney personally and discuss your case, then make a decision.

Ask other attorneys you've worked with on different matters

If you have a real estate attorney friend, you can ask them if they have a recommendation for a personal injury attorney who could help you with your car accident case. Most experienced attorneys will know other good attorneys outside their area of practice.

It is very common for lawyers to refer business to each other, so this can be a great way to find a good attorney.