Auto Accident Attorneys - Steps to Choose the Right Lawyer For Your Michigan Car Accident

Auto Accident Attorneys - Steps to Choose the Right Lawyer For Your Michigan Car Accident
Finding and meeting the right lawyer can seem intimidating, especially for someone who has never hired an auto attorney.So how do you go about finding the best auto accident attorney to handle your case? I recommend you do the following:
• Begin by talking with family, friends and co-workers to see if anyone they know was involved in a car accident lawsuit. Ask them about their experience and if they would recommend their auto attorney.
• Search the Internet for local attorneys who specialize in auto accidents. Review their Web sites for professional advice and a solid track record with cases. Beware of advertising materials and Web sites that contain self-proclaimed endorsements, such as 'the best, the top, leading,' that cannot be supported by fact or verified by recognized third parties.
• Avoid the Yellow Pages: The best auto accident attorneys don't have to advertise heavily, they earn new clients from positive word of mouth or from other lawyer referrals.
Once you have identified a few potential auto attorneys, do some research before contacting their offices:
• Seek third-party verification of the law firm and the lawyer's reputation by checking legal publications, such as Michigan Lawyers Weekly, for any positive or negative publicity about the lawyer or the cases that she has handled.
• Contact the State Bar of Michigan and Martindale-Hubbell, or visit those Web sites to find out whether the lawyer is in good standing. Martindale-Hubbell's AV Rating is the highest for legal ability and ethics, though very few Michigan lawyers and law firms have been given this top rating.
• The auto accident attorney should be actively involved with Michigan legal organizations such as the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice and the State Bar of Michigan; not just as members but as leaders familiar with the latest developments in Michigan no-fault insurance and auto negligence personal injury laws.
Once you have verified the quality of an auto attorney, call to set up an initial consultation. Some firms will charge a consultation fee to meet with you, but most Michigan auto accident attorneys offer free consultations to better inform potential clients, with no fee or obligation. Because car accident cases are very time-sensitive, you should expect the attorney to quickly respond to a phone or Internet request immediately.
The first meeting is very important in deciding whether an auto accident attorney or law firm is the right fit for you. Here are some ideas of questions to ask during the consultation that can help evaluate whether a particular lawyer will be the best fit for your case:
1. How easy will it be to get in touch with you?
2. What client references do you have that can comment on your skills and trustworthiness?
3. How many cases like mine have you handled in the last year?
4. Who else in the office will be working on my case?
5. How is payment for services handled? Are there any fees I will have to pay out of pocket during my case or at the end?
6. If my case is lost and no compensation is awarded, will I still owe you something for your time and effort? (Generally speaking, auto attorneys will charge for their services on a contingency fee basis, where the client pays the attorney 33 percent of what the attorney collects in a settlement or if the case goes to trial.)
After the consultation is over, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Did the auto accident attorney listen well?
2. Did the attorney explain legal topics to me in terms I was able to understand?
3. Did the auto attorney appear very knowledgeable about Michigan no-fault law and how the law applies to my specific case? Did he have to "research it" and get back to me?
4. Did the auto attorney seem to understand my medical injuries and offer to refer me to the best medical care?
Ultimately, you want to choose the auto accident lawyer that you believe will do the best job for you. Even if you choose not to hire an attorney or file a lawsuit, there is no harm in getting initial advice on steps you can take to immediately protect yourself after a serious injury from a Michigan auto accident.
Why Hire an Auto Accident Attorney
An auto accident attorney is effortless to look for with just a click of a mouse. Yet finding a superior one might be challenging. For anyone who is an unlucky sufferer of an auto accident and you are enduring spinal cord injuries, you should opt to employ the services of a car accident attorney to alleviate yourself from the emotional stress and hassle of filing for the claim. Auto accident attorneys carry knowledge and experience essential to seek compensation an accident victim is qualified for. Even in the case that you think you are partially or absolutely accountable for the accident, it is still advised to call your auto accident attorney or lawyer.Car accidents are a prominent cause of death among Americans below 34 years of age. Year after year, there are about forty thousand fatalities which are a result of these car accidents. An unfortunate note is that most people these days do not have satisfactory health, auto and disability insurance to fund for them should they get themselves injured. They don't even have insurance plans which will shoulder the costs should they meet untimely demise as a result of automobile accidents. With this truth in mind, motorists need to arm themselves with all the correct information for them to know how to proceed if an accident should occur.
A crucial thing to not forget in car accidents is to not ever drive away from the scene of the crash. If you do this, it may possibly get you in legal difficulty as this is a violation of the law. Phone the authorities in order to report the collision instead and seek the advice of an auto accident attorney. This will help safeguard your legal rights later on as well as protect you from being wrongly held liable for the incident.
Don't go anywhere. Stay where you are. Send a witness or bystander to phone the police. Do not tackle it yourselves. Give first aid to other victims in case you are competent to do so. Do not move any person except if not doing it directly endangers their life. Do not move vehicles unless of course they are hindering further traffic. In the event that you need to move them, move them as little as possible. Alert approaching drivers. Should you be hurt, stay in your car or truck. Get medical treatment at the scene in case you are injured in any way even if it appears insignificant. Collect and exchange details. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all travelers, eye witnesses, and the motorist. Get the license number and insurance carrier name and policy number from the driver and owner.
Generally there are legal challenges and time constraints which only an auto accident attorney will help work out in your case. You undoubtedly need an auto accident lawyer or attorney if you are now going through injuries in your body. There's a chance you're cautious to employ an experienced auto accident lawyer because it might be too expensive. You have nothing to lose by planning a consultation with an auto accident lawyer or attorney who will not charge for a first consultation. By meeting up with various lawyers, you can screen and hire the best one for your case.