By Mark T Stephen
If you are involved in an auto accident, particularly if there are injuries involved (for either party), you may need the services of a qualified car accident attorney. Finding one is easy enough. However finding one that will put forth the effort required to help you win and be compensated, will require some shopping around. Often your car insurance provider can provide names of attorneys they have worked with in the past. Lawyers are like doctors in that they specialize in various fields. A trained and well seasoned car accident attorney will know the right questions to ask as well as what type of evidence that may be required to prove your innocence and win the case for you.
Contingency agreements mean free until you win
Generally when you hire a car accident attorney they will agree to work for you by means of a contingency fee agreement. This means they receive no financial compensation until they win your case. This also means they work hard to make sure you do win! The fee agreed upon once the case is won and closed will vary and is negotiable but generally an amount from twenty five to forty percent is the going rate. Of course if you have severe injuries and or the case is more complicated this means your lawyer may expect to be paid more than average. Ultimately, the fact you are compensated for medical expenses plus pain and suffering and financial loss due to missed work is what you will sue for.
Out of pocket expenses should be down in writing
Some attorneys charge for additional costs involved such as investigation of the accident scene and drivers records. These costs should be deducted once the case is completed and will come from the clients winning amount. Make sure there is a written guarantee that no out of pocket costs will be charged up front but rather taken out later once the case is won. A successful attorney should have a good track record and experience in handling automobile wreck cases before you hire him or her. Ask for a list of their former cases to help determine how much experience they have. Also ask them for assurance that they have the time available to handle your case, especially if it may be lengthy or involved. Do not be intimidated by your lawyer because you are the one hiring him, not the other way around.
Hiring a lawyer is only the beginning
Once you get a car accident attorney involved in your case you don't want to just sit back and let them do all the work. You are responsible for at least some of your own evidence and must provide any additional help to your attorney. A law suit should be filed no later than two weeks following the accident, well before any evidence becomes stale and witnesses vanish. The case should proceed until it comes to trial at which time the victim may find their efforts are worthwhile when compensation is rewarded. Too often "settling out of court" means settling for less than the trial would provide. Don't settle for less than your case is worth.
Personal Injury Advisor is aimed at providing accurate and relevant information for situations where you've been unfortunate enough to sustain injury. Visit PersonalInjuryAdvisor.info for answers to your personal injury and car accident claim.
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