Four Questions You Might Ask a Car Accident Attorney
Posted on August 28th, 2020 by Oddo & Babat, P.C.
There will probably be a lot of questions running through your head after being in a car accident. You may wonder whose fault the accident was. You could ask yourself how fast you were traveling. You might check yourself and your passengers for injuries. These things are all important, but after all the immediate issues are handled, you need to be thinking about the legal side of your accident. The following are just a few questions you might ask your car accident attorney.
- Do I Have a Case Against the Other Driver?
Every car accident is quite unique. There are different drivers involved with different health conditions and other situations. The weather could have played a role in your accident, as could the construction of the road. Your lawyer can take a look at the circumstances surrounding your case to help you determine whether you have solid enough information and evidence to take the responsible driver to court.
- How Much Does a Car Accident Attorney Cost?
Most car accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means the attorney will charge you a percentage of your settlement award. You won’t have to pay for services up front, but it will come out of the settlement at the end. For this reason, the cost will largely depend on how much you are awarded. Many lawyers charge around 33%, though there could be some higher and some lower.
- Are There Other Costs I Can Expect?
When you participate in any legal proceedings, there are going to be additional costs. You have to pay to file your lawsuit, and that is something that many lawyers will ask for you to pay personally, even if they work on a contingency fee. You could also have court costs, clerical costs and other similar expenses that might not be included in your lawyer’s fees. Your lawyer can help you understand what those are and at what point in the case you’d be expected to pay them.
- Is My Settlement Check Made Out to Me?
In most cases, the settlement check is made out to both you and your lawyer. This allows the lawyer to satisfy all liens and take his or her own fee out before you are given any of the cash.
Getting Started
Your car accident case could last a long time, and you also have the statute of limitations to consider, so it’s important to get started right away.
I consulted with David the first time a couple of years ago on a serious matter that affected a very close member of my family. Not expecting a good experience from this serious situation coupled with an attorney consultation, the entire thing surprised me as it was pleasant, professional, and completely successful. We found him clear, direct, generous and extremely knowledgeable throughout the process. I give my very strongest recommendation
