Five Things You Should Be Aware of before You Select an Auto Accident Attorney for Your Case
Going into an interview with an auto accident attorney, there are a few important things you need to be aware of to make the best possible decisions on how to proceed with your case.
The following are five things you should be aware of before you select an auto accident attorney for your case:
Generally, you should be charged for an auto accident case on a contingency basis.
Attorney fees on an auto accident case or any personal injury case are typically charged on a contingency basis. This means that you don't pay anything unless you win either a settlement or an award. Therefore, you shouldn't have to put any money down upfront when you hire an attorney.
Attorneys typically offer a consultation free of costs for an auto accident case.
Auto accident attorneys are always eager to speak with potential clients about a case. Thus, they will typically offer a free consultation to evaluate your case and to provide you with information on what compensation you may be eligible for.
You lose nothing by attending a free consultation with an auto accident attorney, so there's no reason not to set up an appointment.
You'll probably need to negotiate a percentage fee on the settlement or award.
The contingency fee is usually a percentage of whatever settlement or award you get. You'll need to negotiate this percentage with your attorney.
The typical percentage taken from a personal injury or auto accident case for an attorney fee may be controlled by state law depending on what state you live in. Otherwise, it's typical that an auto accident attorney will ask for 33.33 percent of the settlement or award.
If an attorney sees potential in your case, the attorney is likely to invest in litigation costs.
An auto accident case is going to take some investment. Filing a lawsuit entails some court fees, and it's typically necessary to pay for expert testimony and research in most cases.
However, the attorney you hire will likely cover these costs if he or she sees potential in your case.
Strong auto accident cases typically settle before going to court.
If the responsibility for your auto accident injury or damages is fairly obvious, you can expect the defendant to offer a settlement.
Your attorney may inform you that settlement is likely, but it will typically be necessary for the attorney to draft a notification letter to the defendant before you can expect the defendant to offer a settlement.