Car accidents occur every day, and you never know when one is going to involve you or someone you love. It’s only just that if you were affected by a collision that wasn’t your fault, you are appropriately compensated for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and any other expenses incurred as a result. Unfortunately, it isn’t always that simple to get awarded a fair settlement. For the sake of your claim, you want to make sure you hire a Redding car accident lawyer that is right for the job, and avoiding the mistakes mentioned below will help make sure you get effective counsel.
Hiring a Lawyer That Specializes in a Different Area
One of the biggest errors people make is not hiring a lawyer that is actually knowledgeable in car accident laws and personal injury cases. They assume that as long as someone has a law degree it doesn’t matter their specialty. However, that’s a very wrong assumption to make. You should only consider lawyers that are specifically qualified to give counsel on the topic related to your claim and that can show you a proven track record of success in this area.
Hiring a Lawyer With No Courtroom Experience
Though it would definitely be nice to settle your claim quickly and quietly out of court, it isn’t something you can rely on. In the event that it does have to go before a judge, you want a lawyer representing you who has experience and will exude confidence in that type of setting as well as can handle the associated paperwork. It probably won’t bode well for your case to hire someone who is apprehensive about going up against the insurance company in a courtroom.
Hiring a Lawyer You Can’t Afford
For the average person, cost is a major factor when it comes to hiring a lawyer. The good news is that there are numerous car accident lawyers who will offer their services on a contingency basis so that you only have to pay if you win your case. There is never any reason to hire a lawyer that you can’t afford and add to what is already a stressful situation. Don’t make the mistake of entering into an agreement without fully understanding the legal fees.
Hiring a Lawyer That Makes Promises
Even if there’s no doubt that the other party involved in your accident is at fault, receiving restitution isn’t guaranteed. Therefore, no matter how good a lawyer thinks they are, they should never promise you a favorable outcome or a certain amount of money. Many things are taken into consideration with collision settlements and that will determine what your claim is valued at.
Hiring a Lawyer With a Questionable Background
Anyone that is looking into hiring a lawyer is able to check with their state to see if there has ever been a question concerning ethics or a disciplinary action in a certain attorney’s background. It is also possible to find out what other members of the bar are saying about their colleagues by reviewing the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.
It’s likely that the Redding car accident lawyer you select will make a big difference in how your claim turns out. Keep yourself from making any of these mistakes and choose wisely.
