If you happen to ply routes regularly around Central California, having the contact details of a car accident lawyer Fresno area practitioner can become handy much more than you might expect. What you may not be aware of is that approximately 500,000 car accidents took place in California highways and roads in 2017. From these vehicular crashes and collisions, around 270,000 injuries were recorded. For the first few months of 2018, the number of recorded vehicular accidents already increased by 3% compared to the same months during the previous year.
Whether it is just a fender bender or a major car collision, it will do you well to know a car accident attorney whom you can depend on. So how should you go about searching for a top rated car accident lawyer? The following shows important tips on how to find one.
1. Create a Checklist
Write down the qualifications that you require from a car accident lawyer. Some of the qualifications can only be answered by the lawyers once you schedule a call or a face-to-face consultation with them. Make sure to list down any questions that you may have for them including their experience in car accident cases, proficiency, success rates and fees.
2. Ask for Referrals
Perhaps one of the easiest and most effective ways to go about looking for the right car accident lawyer is through referrals. If some friend or relative knows and remembers a lawyer and recommends him without missing a beat, then chances are that lawyer is good. Placing ads on television and billboards is one thing, but getting free endorsements via word of mouth speaks volumes (no pun intended). Make a list of all the recommendations that you receive.
3. Do an Online Search
To add more candidates to your list, do an online search, particularly in lawyer directories. Such directories may even include ratings, reviews and links to the lawyer’s web pages. Make a note of the information about the lawyer that you can gather via the online search. Some of the best places to visit include lawyers.com, and Avvo.com. You’d expect to see useful legal information on the law firm sites that you then visit – see e.g. Rosengard Law Group‘s in-depth guide to making a car accident claim.
4. Narrow Down Your List
Take a closer look at the reviews and ratings that the lawyers have received. If available, take time to read the reviews thoroughly to see any details that will help you decide whether to keep or remove the lawyer from your list.
5. Call Them
Before driving to their offices, it will be a good idea them a call first. State nature of your call and ask if the lawyers will entertain some of your questions. Based on the phone call, you can get a feel of what the lawyer is like. Ask yourself, does he sound sincere? Are you comfortable having him represent you when you file claims? Can you trust him? These are just a few of the many questions that you can ask the lawyers on your shortlist to help you decide which one to hire.
6. Visit Their Offices
Pay the remaining lawyers on your list a visit. Speaking to them face to face will give you a better idea if you have found the right attorney to represent you if you figure in a car accident. Ask the questions that will help you decide which lawyers number to save on your smartphone.
While these tips may seem to require a bit of work, they are necessary to help you land a top-notch lawyer that you can depend on. A good lawyer should be someone that you can easily communicate with and inspire confidence in you.
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