When you first speak to your car accident lawyer, you will do so during a free initial consultation. This time is when both you and the car accident attorney will learn about each other. They will come to know more about the details of your case while you learn more about the legal process and what you may be facing in your pursuit of financial compensation. You should take advantage of this time to ask your car accident attorney as many questions as necessary for you to fully understand your legal situation and the path forward.
The better educated you are about the legal process, the more effectively you can work with your auto accident lawyer to get the best possible result in your case. You should come prepared with inquiries to the initial consultation so you can learn as much as possible about your case and how it may proceed. Here are some questions that you should consider asking a car accident attorney.
How Do I Qualify for Financial Compensation?
Like any other type of personal injury action, you will win your car accident case when you can prove that the other driver involved in the crash (or another third party) was negligent. The legal standard is proving that someone did something considered unreasonable under the circumstances.
Your word alone is not sufficient to prove negligence. You will need to present evidence to an insurance company or a jury that supports your claim and be enough for them to conclude that the other driver was negligent.
Your trusted car accident attorney can put together a persuasive case on your behalf. It’s best to hire a lawyer to investigate your case soon after the crash, while the evidence is still available and witnesses’ memories are still fresh.
How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?
Your car accident attorney cannot give you a specific timetable for your case during your initial consultation. They can only give you a general range. The only thing under your control when you are filing a car accident claim is when you speak with and hire an attorney. Beyond that, much of the timetable is under the control of the insurance company and other parties.
There is a broad range of outcomes regarding the timing of your case. Although it is theoretically possible that the insurance company can quickly settle your case, it often takes much longer for your case to be resolved. As difficult as it may seem, you need to be as patient as possible to get the best potential result in your car accident case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In each state, there is a statute of limitations that will apply to your case. These laws give you a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, your legal right to seek compensation can go away entirely.
It is essential that you do not miss this deadline because it can mean the end of your legal options. Courts are very unforgiving when the statute of limitations is at issue, and they generally do not have the right to hear your case at all after this time has passed. A car accident attorney will explain how the law works in your state and why it is in your best interest to take the first steps in the legal process as soon as you can.
What Is Involved in the Car Accident Legal Process?
Your car accident attorney will seek compensation for your car accident injuries by filing either a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company or a lawsuit against them in court. You may also want to know what you are expected to do as part of the legal process. You will most often be standing back and letting your car accident attorney do their job. You may need to testify when necessary in a deposition or at trial. You will also need to make the key decisions in your case, but you will only do so after you have received advice from your car accident lawyer.
What if I Was Partially to Blame for the Accident?
The insurance company may try to blame you for the accident. They have a financial motivation to do so because they can either pay you less money or avoid having to compensate you altogether. You should never draw any assumptions about whether you are or are not entitled to compensation, even if you believe you were partially to blame for the accident.
The law is different in each state regarding partial blame. In some states, you can be barred entirely from being paid if you were even partially at fault. In other states, you can still receive money so long as you are not 100 percent to blame for the accident. Then, there are states that use some type of modified system in between those two poles. Your car accident attorney will explain the law in your state and how it may apply to your accident. They will also advise when your assumptions of shared blame are incorrect and prove this to insurers.
How Much Money Will I Owe for Your Services?
You may be worried about how you might afford the help of a car accident attorney. When you speak to a car accident lawyer during a free initial consultation, they should describe how the contingency fee system works.
They should tell you that you do not owe any legal fees until you win your case. When that occurs, you will then have a legal obligation to pay your car accident lawyer, but it is typically taken directly from the proceeds of any settlement or jury award that you receive. The attorney will explain that your main obligation is to sign a representation agreement in which you promise to pay your lawyer if and when you win. However, you have no legal obligation to pay legal fees to your attorney if you do not win.
Contact a Trusted Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident, it’s important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. By hiring a New Hampshire personal injury law firm, you can focus on your recovery while they handle the legal aspects of the process.