Selecting an Auto Accident Attorney in Orlando
There are many auto accident attorneys to choose from in Orlando and the Central Florida area. Finding the right auto accident attorney is critical. Your attorney will not only help you win your case and compensate you for any damages, but will be instrumental in a speedy recovery so that you may put the accident behind you and continue your life as you knew it before the accident. There are several factors to consider before deciding on an attorney; including questions that you may want to ask yourself as well as ask the potential attorney before making your selection. You must feel confident in your choice of Florida accident attorneys to assure the successful outcome that you deserve.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
Initial Experience
What was your initial experience with the auto accident attorney’s office? Was your call answered quickly, was the staff polite? Were you able to speak with attorney right away? Who was your initial appointment made with? Your first appointment can be very telling. If you don’t meet with an attorney from the initial meeting, that may very well be a red flag that you may not have the access you may need to an attorney throughout your legal process.
Attorney Experience
Was the attorney you met with able to answer all of your questions? Did you feel comfortable with the attorney? Your Florida auto accident attorney should bring you comfort and a sense of trust from the initial meeting. It is safe to think of your attorney as your therapist throughout the legal process of handling your auto accident; your attorney will be your comfort zone and your confidant throughout the entire case.
Questions to Ask Your Attorney:
Will We Win this Case?
Let’s face it. If you have been on an auto accident in Florida and are in search of an attorney, this is what you really want to know. A good lead in question to find out the answer is to ask what sort of cases the attorney has handled that are similar to yours and what were the outcomes.
How Much Will This Case Cost Me?
It is always fair to ask a Florida accident attorney what their fee structure is. Most personal injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis; meaning that the attorney is paid a percentage of the final settlement amount of your case (rather than an hourly rate.) However, even with a contingency fee agreement, this is not always the case, so always ask the question and be sure to read ay agreements with fee structure instructions before signing on the new attorney.
Do You Have Time For Me?
It is a good idea to check on the attorney’s current caseload. You are going to want your case to move along as quickly as possible and it is fair to ask how long they feel it will take for an outcome to develop in your case. This will often depend heavily on their current caseloads. Make sure the attorney you are questioning has time to invest in you and your case.
Will We Settle or Go To Court?
It is a good idea to ask the question to the Orlando accident attorney to get a sense that they are comfortable to either settle a case or take the case to court for settlement. With accident cases, you want to be sure your attorney has extensive trial experience to cover all of the bases to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Who Will Be My POC?
Be sure to ask the attorney you speak with who you will be working with from their office regarding your case. You want to be sure the attorney you are speaking with is the person that you will be working with and not paralegals or staff from their office. You will be providing a lot of information and there will be a lot of ongoing communication between you and your attorney. You do not want any lines of communication to get lost between different points of contact. Maintaining direct lines of communication will be key throughout the case.
Do You Have Any References?
It is perfectly okay for you to ask the accident attorney if they have any past clients or references that you may speak with before you make your decision. You may ask to speak with someone that had a similar case to yours to help you make a more well rounded decision. Also, it is a good idea to do some checking of your own on the attorney. You can check online to make sure they are a member in good standing of their state and local bar association. Larger bar associations have attorney referral lists you can access at no charge.
Selecting your Attorney
As you are interviewing Orlando auto accident attorneys, be thorough and confident that you have answered all of your own questions as well as the suggested questions for the attorney. Doing your homework before hiring an auto accident attorney is an important step to finding the right attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve. The car accident attorneys at David & Philpot, P.L. have been helping auto accident victims in Florida for over 20 years. Contact us for a free consultation. We will make sure that all of your questions are answered completely and to your satisfaction.
