How to Find a Good Car Accident Lawyer

Finding the best legal representation can be critical for receiving what you deserve after getting injured in a car crash. However, not all law firms are reputable and successful. Therefore, doing your research before hiring a car accident attorney can be crucial for your case.

Morgan & Morgan knows what you are going through. We see every day how severe crashes change victims’ lives, causing chronic pain, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.

We want you to have the best shot at getting a fair settlement. Our dedicated car accident lawyers have handled thousands of car accident claims, helping people like you get justice and compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out more.

Do You Have a Car Accident Claim and Need a Lawyer?

Not all car crash victims have a personal injury claim. However, if another is responsible for your accident, whether another driver, a company, or a government entity, you could have a legal case. Examples of circumstances that may allow you to seek compensation after a car crash include, among others:

• Another driver caused your collision due to speeding, driving drunk, or other careless conduct
• A car defect caused your accident
• You experienced a crash due to a poorly designed road or lack of road maintenance

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determined that most accidents occur due to driver error and negligence, followed by car defects and other causes. Since collisions can be complex, consider contacting a car accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan. We can determine whether you have a legal case, walk you through your options, and move forward with filing a compensation claim on your behalf.

How to Find a Great Car Accident Attorney

A great car accident attorney can help you receive what you are owed when someone else causes your crash. However, choosing a lawyer can seem overwhelming with advertising on TV, billboards, and the internet. Here are some tips to help you identify excellent car accident lawyers near you:

Ask Friends and Family for Referrals

There is no better way to find an excellent attorney than through a recommendation from a satisfied client. Since many of us have experienced car crashes, friends and family members can be a great resource for finding an excellent car accident lawyer.

Contact Your State’s Bar Association

Your state’s bar association can be a great resource for finding a reputable lawyer near you. Most bar associations have a website where you can search for lawyers and see their records.

Consult Internet Resources

Conveniently, you do not have to leave the comfort of your home to find excellent legal representation. Several online lawyer directories, such as Martindale or Avvo, can help you find car accident lawyers. You can also check lawyers’ reputation and reviews online to determine whether they leave a trail of happy or frustrated clients.

Morgan & Morgan’s attorneys have more than 28,000 five-star Google reviews from satisfied clients, which speaks for itself.

Choosing the Best Car Accident Lawyer

Not all law firms and lawyers are the same. Since severe car crash injuries can have long-term repercussions for your health and finances, you need someone who will fight vigorously for the compensation you deserve. The best car accident lawyers have extensive experience fighting insurance companies in and out of court. You will want a lawyer or firm with an excellent reputation and reasonable fees.

Once you have some names on your list of potential candidates, you may have to do a little homework to narrow down the field and identify the best attorney for you. Here are some things to look out for:

Ask About the Attorney’s Experience and Track Record

Personal injury is a large field, and not all injury lawyers are experienced in handling car accident claims. Ensure that the attorney you choose handles mostly car crashes and has won settlements and verdicts. Your ideal car accident lawyer should be an excellent and experienced litigator who has fought and won several car accident cases at trial.

Ensure Your Lawyer Works on Contingency

Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they don’t receive their pay unless you win and recover compensation. However, not all do. Small law firms may not have the resources to fight claims on contingency and might charge their clients upfront retainers or hourly fees. The problem with upfront fees is that you will be out of pocket whether you win or lose your case. Therefore, ask about fees before agreeing to hire a lawyer and signing on the dotted line.

Consider the Car Accident Lawyer’s Reputation

Some law firms are looking for a quick fee and may not give your case the time and attention it deserves. However, to have the best chance of a favorable outcome and maximum compensation, you need a lawyer who is not just interested in a quick check but willing to put in the time and effort. Avoid law firms that never go to trial or have a reputation for quick settlements, especially if you have considerable damages and severe injuries.

Your lawyer should also be well respected in the legal community. Attorneys that receive many referrals from other lawyers are usually highly valued and trusted to offer outstanding legal representation. To ensure that your lawyer is in good standing, you can contact your local bar association, which will most likely have records regarding an attorney’s disciplinary records, if any.  

Listen to Your Gut Feeling

Above all, you must have trust and confidence in your car accident lawyer. The best attorney on paper, with outstanding qualifications and an impressive track record, may not necessarily be the right lawyer for you. When you meet your attorney for the first time, and they tick all the boxes, ask yourself:

• Is the lawyer compassionate and communicative?
• Are they enthusiastic about helping you?
• Do they answer your questions honestly and openly?

If you can answer these questions with a “yes,” you have probably found a good match. Since you may spend a lot of time with your attorney, it is essential that you feel comfortable and trust them.

How a Good Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Win

Hiring an experienced and motivated car accident lawyer can be essential, particularly if you suffered significant injuries and expenses from the crash. Moreover, when you work with an attorney, you can focus on your recovery instead of fighting a potentially stressful and demanding personal injury lawsuit. Here are some examples of how our car accident attorneys can help you fight for justice and compensation:

Identify Your Rights and Legal Options

In the first instance, our attorneys and legal team members will analyze your accident to determine your rights and legal options. If required, we can work with professional investigators and accident reconstruction professionals to identify all at-fault parties in your crash. Our team can then move forward, file a claim on your behalf, and help you navigate the legal progress.

Obtain Necessary Evidence to Prove Your Claim

If you were severely injured, you may have required emergency medical attention and could probably not gather evidence at the accident scene. However, by contacting an attorney promptly after your crash, they can immediately start gathering time-sensitive evidence that could help prove your claim, such as photographs of the crash scene, traffic or dash camera footage, and other material.

Communicate with the At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Company

It is best to avoid negotiating with the responsible driver’s insurance company directly. The insurer could use manipulative tactics to get you to say something they could use to minimize or even deny your payout. Let your car accident lawyer level the playing field, negotiate with the insurer, and protect your legal rights. Avoid accepting any settlement offers before discussing the details with an attorney, as you could leave money on the table.  

Assess the Injury’s Impact on Your Life

Knowing the worth of your claim is crucial for recovering the settlement or verdict you truly deserve. The only way to know what you deserve is to understand all your losses by painstakingly calculating expenses, such as medical care, out-of-pocket costs, wage losses, and others. Moreover, if you were significantly injured, you may also qualify for damages such as pain and suffering and loss of life enjoyment. Putting a dollar figure on your pain and anguish is tricky but critical for receiving a fair settlement.

Many victims do not know the true value of their claims and run the risk of an insurance company taking advantage. Victims are more likely to agree to a lowball settlement offer if they do not know what their claim is worth. Morgan & Morgan’s car accident lawyers can assess all your damages, including future expected losses such as medical bills. We never settle for less, and neither should you.

Fight for You at Trial

While most personal injury claims are settled in court, some go to trial. Claims are more likely to move through the court system when much money is at stake. Insurers and at-fault parties may drag their heels and refuse to agree to a fair settlement. Unfortunately, some law firms will settle for an insurer’s last best offer, even if their clients’ cases may be worth double or more. Not Morgan & Morgan.

Our tenacious car accident lawyers fight tooth and nail for our clients, whether in or out of court. As a result, we have recovered over $20 billion in damages for injured clients in the last three decades. Morgan & Morgan has your back.

Compensation You Could Receive

Car accident claims can vary, and the damages you can receive depend on your circumstances. However, victims could receive the following awards and others:

• Medical expenses
• Physical therapy
• Loss of wages and benefits
• Pain and anguish
• Emotional trauma
• Reduced life quality
• Disability

A car accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can calculate your damages and assess the value of your claim.