Where Can I Find Free Legal Advice After A Car Accident?

If you've been in a car accident, you'll often wonder what to do next. Your car may be damaged or totaled, you may be injured, and you may not be able to work. While you may need compensation to offset mounting bills, you may not think you can afford legal assistance.

For those seeking free legal advice, car accident lawyers typically charge on a contingency fee basis. This means they don't ask clients to pay upfront. Instead, they listen to the facts of your case and decide whether to accept it.

If they take your case, they receive a percentage of the compensation they secure for you. If your case fails, you don't have to pay for legal representation.

How do I choose a lawyer to help me with my car accident case?

When you're seeking free legal advice, a car accident lawyer who has experience with motor vehicle accidents is the best choice. Ideally, they should be familiar with the accident laws in your city and state.

They should also have a track record of reaching settlements with insurance companies and other people or entities responsible for collisions.

While most cases involving car accidents never go to trial, it's possible that your case will. Make sure your attorney has successfully tried cases involving motor vehicle accidents before.

Other factors that may help you when deciding which car accident attorney to choose include:

Good communication skills

You need someone who can clearly articulate their understanding of the law for you. A good attorney should be able to ask the right questions to explain the facts of your case.

They will be understanding and compassionate while also advocating for you from a legal perspective. You won't be left idle between appointments, either. They will keep you updated on the situation.

Check their reputation

Before deciding which attorney or law firm to choose, make sure they are reputable. Do some research online to see what previous clients have to say about them. Check their ratings with the Better Business Bureau. You can also contact your state's bar association to determine if they have been subject to any disciplinary action.

Talk to their staff

A well-organized law firm should have a team of knowledgeable paralegals and assistants. Typically, these people will be responsible for handling your case. They will gather your documents and organize your inventory to ensure that your attorney has everything they need to represent you.

Employees who seem distracted or unwilling to help can be a red flag that the company is not serious about its clients.

How to Find an Attorney Who Works on a Contingency Fee Basis?

Most attorneys who practice personal injury law work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is when the attorney agrees to take your case for free and expects to receive a percentage or fixed amount of any settlement you receive.

Contingency fee percentages can vary based on certain factors, including the following.

Complexity of the Case

If your car accident case is very complex, the attorney may set a higher contingency fee. A case may be complex when there are a lot of documents to be collected or when the case is expected to last a long time.

While most car accident cases are resolved quickly, sometimes they go to court, causing the attorney to have to spend more time representing you.

Litigation Costs

If the attorney anticipates that your case will go to court before you receive compensation, they may ask for a higher contingency fee. The higher fee will cover expenses such as hiring expert witnesses, court costs and investigation fees, and other administrative costs.

In some cases, the attorney will ask you to pay these fees separately from their fees, and they will be deducted from any settlement you receive.

Can risk-averse fees be variable?

In some cases, an attorney may not employ a traditional case fee structure, where they charge a percentage of the settlement. Case fees also come in two other main forms, as described below.

Contingency Hourly Arrangements

Under an hourly fee arrangement, you do not pay the attorney until you receive a settlement. However, they will keep track of the time they spent working on your case. Once you settle, you will pay them an hourly fee based on their rate.