Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. If you have suffered damages or injuries due to the carelessness of another driver, then you deserve to receive compensation for your losses. Hiring a Georgia car accident lawyer can help you get what you deserve. Still, not all lawyers are the same, and some lawyers are better than others. Finding the right lawyer for you is crucial to receiving justice. Here are a few questions you can ask potential Georgia car accident lawyers to see if they will provide the representation that you are looking for.
What Is Your Fee?
While you should never select a lawyer solely based on price, the amount they will charge you will be an important factor in your decision. Finding out upfront what the lawyer’s fee will be and how it is to be paid and calculated can help save you time and avoid a dispute later on. Many car accident lawyers have fees paid on what is known as a contingency fee basis. This means is that you will only be responsible for paying your lawyer their fee if you either receive a settlement or win at trial. Under this arrangement, If you do not receive any money from your case, your lawyer does not collect a fee. If you receive money, funds from the settlement or court award will pay your lawyer’s fee. Most car accident lawyers will take 30-40% of whatever money you receive from your case as their fee.
What Kinds Of Cases Do You Handle?
It is recommended that you hire a lawyer that specializes in car accidents. These lawyers typically have more experience in these cases and have a proven track record of getting their clients compensation for their losses. While another type of lawyer may be adequate, you can give yourself the best chance of winning your case if you select a lawyer that focuses specifically on car accidents. These lawyers will know the laws surrounding personal injury cases and have experience dealing with insurance companies.
Should I Pursue A Case?
An honest and ethical lawyer will review the facts surrounding your case and give you a real answer on your chances of coming out on top. Because many car accident lawyers take these cases on a contingency fee basis, they will typically not get involved in a case they do not believe has a good chance of winning. Still, it is important that you go over the facts and evidence of your case with your lawyer and have them give you their informed opinion on whether you should pursue the case at all.
How Long Have You Been Practicing?
Lawyers who have been doing car accident cases for a long time tend to have more knowledge and experience than lawyers who have just graduated from law school or are new to these types of cases. An experienced car accident lawyer will likely also have connections to other lawyers and insurance companies that they can leverage to help settle your case. While the amount of time a lawyer has been practicing is relevant, it does not always mean the lawyer is competent. You will want to check for testimonials or client reviews to gauge the quality of their past work.
How Much Time Do I Have To File A Lawsuit?
The law limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit based on damages or injuries you suffered from a car accident. In Georgia, that time is usually two years from the date of the accident. But there are exceptions, and a knowledgeable lawyer should tell you if you fall into one of those exceptions and approximately how long you have to file a lawsuit. While many car accident cases settle out of court, some will go to court, and if your time to file a lawsuit has expired, then you may not be able to receive compensation for your loss.
What Is My Case Worth?
No lawyer will be able to give you an exact figure on what you can expect to get from your case. But an experienced lawyer should be able to give an estimate. Lawyers who have tried these types of cases in the past can rely on past similar cases to come up with the approximate value of your case. Still, these numbers are not set in stone, and you should be cautious of any lawyer that claims that they can guarantee a specific outcome or payout.
Who Will Be Working On My Case?
Most lawyers have support staff that assists them in their daily practice. This can include secretaries, paralegals, law clerks, and other lawyers. It is important to establish who will be working on which aspects of your case. A lawyer who passes off most of the work on your case to non-lawyers may not be as reliable or thorough as one that does most of the work themselves.
How Will I Contact You?
One of the most common complaints clients make concerning their lawyers is the lack of communication. To avoid this, you will want to establish the communication style and frequency that your lawyer prefers upfront. Some lawyers prefer email, while others text or make phone calls. Finding a lawyer that works well with your communication style can help to make you feel heard and up to date on how your case is progressing.
How Long Will My Case Take?
Car accident cases can be resolved in as little as six months or can drag on for years. If your case involves multiple drivers and insurance companies, it may take longer than one that is less complex. Still, your lawyer should be able to give you a ballpark time range based on similar cases they handled in the past. As with many other aspects of your case, be cautious of any lawyer that will guarantee a specific outcome or a length of time.
Contact Us Today
When a car accident leaves you injured, you might be owed compensation, among other things. The lawyers at Dozier Law understand that you deserve the best representation that you can get. We are here to fight on your behalf against those who are responsible for causing your injuries. For more information, contact Dozier Law today by calling (888) 239-2129 or reach out to us online.
