After you’ve been in a fender bender, there’s a few things you have to remember: get the other driver’s insurance information, contact the police, collect photographic evidence of the damage and scene, etc. After that, you shouldn’t have much more hassle than dealing with the insurance and getting your vehicle fixed. But if you’ve been injured–or the other driver is uninsured–you may need to take the next step and contact a lawyer. An expert in personal injury and car accident cases can help you get the compensation you deserve, but only if you play it smart. In this article, we’ll lay out the questions you should be asking your car accident lawyer.

Important Questions for Your Car Accident Lawyer

To make sure you get the best representation possible, you need to make sure your potential lawyer can handle the job. Here are a few questions you can ask to find out if they’ll be a good fit for you?

  • “How long have you been representing personal injury clients?” – This will give you a sense of their expertise in this field and whether it’s a sideline or their main focus. As with anything, the longer they’ve been doing it the better.
  • “How many car accident victims do you represent in a given year?” – The higher the volume, the better understanding your lawyer will have of the legal nuances in your region. They may also have the insurance company you’re dealing with and their representation.
  • “How many auto accident lawsuits do you settle? How many do you take to trial?” – This is an indication of how hard they’re willing to fight for you.
  • “Will you be my lawyer or will I be working with another member of your firm?”- If you’re meeting with a partner, there is a good chance that they will actually assign your case to another lawyer. This is not necessarily bad, but you’ll want to meet the lawyer you’d be working with before you make any decisions.

You’ll also want to get a sense of what your lawyer thinks about your case. Make sure you get everything you need to know. For instance, ask:

  • “What is your assessment of my case?”
  • “What kind of settlement or judgement is realistic?”
  • “Will we have to go to trial and how long do you expect it to take?”

You’ll also want to know how your case will be handled:

  • “Do you charge a contingency rate or by the hour?”
  • “Will I have to pay you if we do not win a settlement?”
  • “Can I receive progress reports? How frequently?”

Once you’ve found a car accident lawyer, you’re job will be to provide them with all the relevant information about the case including your account of what happened and any evidence you may have–photographic or otherwise. A good lawyer will work with you and keep you continually updated on the progress of your case. If you’ve been involved in an accident, contact a Las Vegas car accident lawyer today.