Tips for Finding the Best Attorneys for Automobile Accidents

If you have been injured in a crash, you deserve a skilled Denver car accident lawyer in your corner

Automobile accidents happen every day. According to statistics, about 3,700 car accidents caused an injury or fatality in Colorado in 2016.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision, you need an experienced car accident lawyer to help you build a case against the other driver.

But how do find the best automobile accident attorneys in the state? Read on for helpful tips for finding the best car accident lawyer for you.

Tip #1: Find a Lawyer Who Handles a Lot of Car Accidents

Many lawyers are generalists who will handle any legal issue you want: defending against a DUI, drafting a real estate contract, writing a will, etc. Other lawyers will specialize on a subset of law: personal injury, criminal, tax, bankruptcy. Meanwhile, other lawyers will have even more targeted practices—focusing only on medical malpractice or car accidents.

The more experience a lawyer has in their field, the better equipped they are to represent you. Someone who has handled only two or three car accident cases knows far less about the process than someone who has represented car accident victims for years.

When looking for an attorney, find someone who focuses a large percentage of their practice on automobile accidents. You can look at their website to see about their relevant experience or call up the lawyer and ask how many car accident lawsuits they have handled.

Tip #2: Ask the Right Questions

Most lawyers offer a free case evaluation or consultation where you can meet and explain a little bit about your accident. There will also be time for you to ask the lawyer questions. Come prepared with the right questions:

• Ask how many car accident cases the lawyer has handled. The more the better.
• Ask if they have handled a case exactly like yours. For example, you might have been rear ended by a big rig. This is a different type of case than someone who has been T-boned by another passenger vehicle in an intersection.
• Ask about the strengths and weaknesses of your case. This allows the lawyer to show off their legal knowledge.
• Ask questions about whether the lawyer prefers to settle cases or to take cases to trial.

Above all else, pay attention to how comfortable the lawyer is explaining legal concepts to you. Believe it or not, someone who uses big words unnecessarily is usually less confident in their abilities than someone who can explain the law in simple language.

Tip #3: Ask for References or Client Testimonials

Who knows a lawyer’s skill better than prior clients? Ask a lawyer if he can give you the name of a couple former clients you could speak to. When talking to the reference, ask them what they liked about the lawyer and what they didn’t like.

Also, remember to supplement by reading online reviews. Any reference will be hand-picked by the lawyer because they have only positive things to report. Online reviews are unfiltered and can provide a different perspective.

Because anyone can leave an online review, you shouldn’t trust them 100%, but they can give you a full, well-rounded review of the lawyer’s capabilities.

Tip #4: Avoid a Lawyer who Promises a Certain Result

You might meet with a very confident lawyer who promises that you will receive $100,000 in a settlement for your injuries. Sounds impressive, right?

Wrong!

Lawyers should not make promises about what “will” happen. Instead, a lawyer can, based on their experience, tell you what they think will happen. However, every lawyer understands that no two cases are exactly alike.

Furthermore, ethical rules prohibit lawyers from making promises, which only serve to deceive consumers. Any lawyer who makes promises is not behaving ethically and is someone you should avoid.

Tip #5: Look for a Lawyer with Trial Experience

Most cases settle before ever getting to trial. However, there is a reason they settle: the defendant is afraid that a jury might award you millions of dollars for your injuries and they want to prevent that from happening. As a result, the defendant might agree to pay a few hundred thousand dollars to compensate you, which can make the case go away.

Juries are unpredictable, and good trial attorneys can convince jurors to award huge verdicts to injured clients. For this reason, hiring a strong trial attorney can help you in settlement negotiations, because the defendant will have a strong incentive to settle the case before you ever see a courtroom.

When meeting with a lawyer, ask about their trial experience. They might also list relevant trials on their website. By hiring a strong trial attorney, you can maximize the compensation you receive.

Tip #6: Choose a Local Attorney

Some lawyers practice all over Colorado, even if they are not located anywhere near their clients. However, this arrangement usually does not work the best. You need a lawyer who is easy to contact and meet with.

Local lawyers also know local judges, as well as the rules of each particular court. They also might understand the kinds of evidence juries in that county or city find persuasive. This type of experience can be a huge help as you try to hold a defendant liable for your injuries.

Speak with a Denver Automobile Accident Lawyer

Hiring a strong lawyer is the best thing you can do to protect your rights to compensation after a serious car accident. At Roberts Accident Law, we have represented injured motorists in some of the toughest cases around and have gone up against the state’s most powerful car insurance companies.

If you have been injured in a crash, you deserve a skilled Denver car accident lawyer in your corner.

Steve Roberts, our founder, is a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and has negotiated multiple favorable settlements for our clients. If you would like to speak to him, please schedule your free, no-strings case evaluation by calling 720-515-7058.

Avoid delay. Colorado gives injured motorists a limited amount of time to protect their rights, and any delay could cost you valuable compensation.