If you have been involved in an auto accident, you may need to “lawyer up”. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you recover losses arising from the car accident and reduce an incredible amount of paperwork, hassle and “red tape” commonly associated with motor accident insurance claims. According to attorney Greg Baumgartner, a renowned personal injury lawyer in Houston, knowing when to bring in a lawyer can mean the difference between getting the compensation that you deserve and receiving nothing.
Here is what you need to know about lawyering up.
Reasons to hire an auto accident lawyer
The sad truth is that accidents are commonplace. In fact, a majority of personal injury lawsuits in the US are due to a crash involving a motorbike, car, or truck. Luckily, most of these accidents are fender benders and can be handled through direct contact with an insurer. However, when the accidents involve a fatality, physical injury, or other significant damage, a lawyer may need to be involved.
An experienced accident attorney can assist you in recovering compensation to take care of all the losses arising from the accident, including lost wages, medical costs, and car repairs. In some cases, the lawyer may also help you get compensation for lost companionship, lack of enjoyment, caregiver and any other current and future expenses that result from the accident.
What to look for when hiring a motor accident lawyer
Houston has thousands of lawyers, but not all of them can represent you. Lawyers differ in terms of specialization, experience, reputation, commitment, skill level, cost and so on. A good lawyer for you is one who specializes in car accident cases and has experience handling cases that are of a similar nature as yours – whether its property destruction, wrongful death, personal injury, or liability determinations. The best way to uncover this is by looking at their background, track record, references and also asking the right kinds of questions. Above all, the lawyer should take on your case on a contingency fee basis if they think you stand a good chance of getting compensation.
When to hire a lawyer
Calling a lawyer can be critical to your case – so it should be the first thing that you do after contacting medical help. A lawyer will not only help you get the right evidence from the accident scene, but they will also inform you of your rights, so you are not taken advantage of. Remember, car accident cases have a statute of limitations, which you may miss if you aren’t well informed. And since you have bills to take care of, it is better to contact an attorney sooner so you won’t need to break the bank for something that was not your fault.
Questions to ask your car accident lawyer
As stated earlier, knowing the right questions to ask is the best way to find a competent lawyer. Here are some questions that you should ask your accident lawyer to gauge whether they are the right option for you or not:
What percentage of your firm is dedicated to auto accident cases?
Have you handled cases like mine before and what were the results?
How much money will I possibly recover for my losses?
How much of my case will you actually handle?
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for?
How are your fees structured?
