A Lancaster Car Accident Lawyer will help you get compensated. If you are injured due to the negligence of another person or entity, then you will need to find an accident attorney. Rather than simply opening your phone book to the business directory and finding an attorney from the plethora there, you could perform an online search for an accident attorney, speak with friends or relatives for recommendations, or perhaps you’ve a colleague who knows of a good attorney.
You also want to know if your potential lawyer charges a contingency fee or an hourly rate. Most car accident lawyers use a contingency fee, where you do not have to pay the attorney upfront. Rather, they receive a percentage of your award or settlement (usually 1/3) as compensation for their work. That means the attorney has to be successful to be paid for his or her services. While it is common practice for car accident lawyers to charge a contingency fee for their services, never assume this to be true. If the attorney will work for you on a contingency basis, ask what percentage of the recovery they will take and how additional costs of litigation will be calculated. Always ask how the attorney will be compensated for their work.
It is also good to know if your potential accident lawyer belongs to their state’s Trial Lawyers Association and/or the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). Involvement in these organizations shows a commitment to promoting fair and effective justice. Other things to consider are years of experience, what law school the attorney attended and any additional training they may have.
Another reason that you need an auto accident attorney is that not all auto accident injuries are completely visible or manifest symptoms at first. Problems like whiplash and minor spinal injuries due to impact can take months to fix, and it’s not cheap to go to a chiropractor’s office once or twice a week until the problem is cured. Insurance companies are totally aware of this, which is why they’ll try to write you a small settlement check right after your accident.
You’re thinking that you walked away injury free, only to discover a few days later that you can’t handle the pain without going to a chiropractor. If you’ve already accepted a check from the insurance company, you may not be able to get enough money to actually cover those extra medical expenses. So, before you accept a check at all, check with an attorney to see if it’s actually a decent settlement or not.
A Lancaster Car Accident Lawyer is really great help when in an accident. Dealing with insurance companies always brings a lot of red tape and annoying phone calls. If you just don’t have the time and energy, let alone the knowledge, to deal with it, then you need an attorney who does. Hiring an attorney who has worked with other auto accident cases and won can be a good start to getting the money you need from your insurance company. Whether you need to pay for car repairs or medical bills or cover the bills because you missed time at work, an auto accident attorney can get you the money you need from your insurance company.