What does a lawyer do for you after a car accident?

After a car accident, you may get overwhelmed negotiating with the insurance company or astounded by the amount of work involved that it takes to get the compensation you deserve. Whether you decided early on or down the road, you may be wondering how best to select a law firm to take care of your claim.

First and foremost, you should know what a auto accident lawyer is supposed to do on your behalf should you hire one to represent you in an auto accident claim

–       A lawyer should evaluate your medical expenses. Not only current medical bills, but medical bills you, may incur in the future due to the injuries you sustained in the accident.

–       A lawyer should fight to recover lost wages. If you missed work due to your accident, your lawyer should fight to recover not just a portion, but all of your lost wages.

–       A lawyer should negotiate to get you a rental car while yours is being repaired. If your car was totaled, a lawyer should fight to get you a rental car until you can purchase another one. A lawyer should also fight to get the maximum amount of money your car was worth.

Pro-Tip: Your lawyer should be available to you if you want to speak with them. Know that you aren’t their only client and lawyers are typically very busy, but don’t let that deter you from attempting to contact them if you need to speak with them. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask them how accessible they are during your claim.

Once you find a law firm you trust, ask to speak to a lawyer

Whether you speak to the lawyer on the phone or in person, they should explain up front that they will work your case on a contingency basis, meaning that you don’t pay if you don’t win your case. An experienced auto injury lawyer will also give you an idea as to how much your claim is worth. Since they work to get their clients the most money possible, they will have a good idea as to what to expect. If you have gone as far in the claim process to get an offer from an insurance company, this is the point where they will tell you if it is a fair offer or not.

It shouldn’t be difficult to find an injury attorney after your car accident, but not every attorney has a free consultation – so start your search there. Ask as many questions as you like and get a feel for the attorney and make sure you are comfortable with them before you sign a contract. The bottom line is that you should have someone do all the work and get you the best possible result when seeking compensation for your auto accident.