Thousands of car accidents and crashes are reported in Indiana every year. Most of these are minor bumps, but serious collisions and accidents are not rare either. If you ever get injured in such a car accident, you need to seek legal expertise. Indiana is an at-fault state, so the driver responsible for the accident will pay compensation to the victims (through their insurance company). If the settlement is not fair, or your claim is denied, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Right from the time when you start insurance claim-related paperwork, you need advice from an attorney you can trust. In this post, we are sharing more on how to hire the right Fort Wayne car accident lawyer.
- Expertise counts. Make sure that your accident lawyer has worked on cases similar to yours. The good news is most attorneys offer free initial consultation, so you can always decide on whether you want to work with a lawyer. Ask the attorney about the possible outcomes of the case and how they plan to handle your claim.
- Work profile. What percentage of a lawyer’s practice is dedicated to auto accident claims and lawsuits? Personal injury law has a huge scope, and car accidents often have unique specifics. Do check if the attorney deals with such cases on a regular basis. If needed, you can ask for references too.
- Fee. Typically, accident lawyers in Indiana work on a contingency basis. This means that the lawyer doesn’t get paid if they don’t win. The fee is usually a fixed percentage of the final settlement, ideally not more than 40%. Ask the lawyer about the costs of the case, including other expenses. Your attorney may be able to advance these expenses, to be adjusted later.
- Availability. If a car accident lawyer has too many cases at the moment, they may assign the case to a junior or associate. Ask the attorney in advance if they are going to work on the case personally. If not, they should at least let you know the attorney working on your case.
- Trial experience. Most personal injury cases are settled outside of court. However, if your case ends up in trial, you will need an accident lawyer with courtroom experience. Ask the percentage of their cases that end up in court.
Shortlist and meet at least a couple of accident lawyers before you choose one.
