Hiring the right Chillicothe car wreck lawyer is among the most important decisions you can make after a serious or fatal traffic collision. From the moment of a crash, auto insurance companies, investigators, and their attorneys, are operating as an experienced team with one focus: To limit or eliminate your ability to collect fair compensation for your losses.
The law understands victims are at a disadvantage. That is why it allows personal injury and wrongful death attorneys to accept cases on a contingency fee basis, which pays an attorney a portion of collected damages. That means victims don’t need money upfront, and lawyers are only paid if they are successful in obtaining a damage award on behalf of a client.
Still, it is up to victims to assert their legal rights by contacting an experienced car wreck attorney as soon as possible after a collision occurs.
Things to look for when choosing a car wreck lawyer:
Availability: When calling a law firm, do you get to speak to the attorney or are you shuffled around? If the attorney is busy (good attorneys often are), does he or she call you back in a timely manner?
Fees: How is your attorney paid? Most experienced personal injury and wrongful death lawyers in Ohio will take your case with no money up front, instead collecting costs and fees from any damage award they win on your behalf.
Size: Size matters in both directions. You need to make sure your law firm has the experience and resources to go up against a large insurance company and their defense attorneys. These cases can cost tens of thousands of dollars to prepare for trial. But you also want a law firm that understands you and your family need someone to fight for them. Somewhere where you are not just one of hundreds of cases.
Experience: Many attorneys will advertise personal injury and wrongful death representation. They are throwing a line in the water and will quickly settle any cases they get without spending much time or money. Their primary law practice is in another area of law, like criminal or family law, and they are trolling for personal injury cases on the side. Look for a law firm that does substantial work in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
Trial Experience: The vast majority of personal injury and wrongful death cases will settle before going to trial for one very important reason: If your attorney builds a strong case for damages, defense lawyers and insurance companies don’t want it anywhere near a courtroom. But if your law firm has a track record of settling all of its cases, you will not be in a position to push for a fair award during settlement negotiations. Make sure your attorney has significant courtroom experience and the jury awards to prove it.
We always suggest accident victims talk to several law firms before making their decision. Lack of experience makes far too many victims worried about whether they can get a lawyer to take their case. What you should be worried about is selecting a law firm with the best mix of service, resources and experience that will give you peace of mind and the knowledge that you are in the right hands.
Call Chillicothe Injury Lawyer Mike Warren at 740-774-4357 today at Buckeye Legal for a free and confidential consultation on your car wreck to discuss your rights.
