Free Car Accident Lawyers: How They Work and What You Should Look For

If you have recently been involved in an accident, you may be searching online for a query like “free car accident lawyer near me.” Most people who are looking to find a “free car accident lawyer near me” have been critically hurt in an accident and have many questions about what they need to do next. It can be very hard to figure out this process on your own, and you may not realize that you have made a mistake in handling your legal claim by yourself until it is too late to fix it.

The support of an attorney is vital in helping you understand all of the critical legal issues and in helping you to prepare your case to go to court. In many cases, a free car accident lawyer near you will be able to successfully close out your claim through settlement conversations. In settlement conversations, the insurance company and other involved parties may propose a lump sum fee that would allow you to close out the lawsuit. What is important to understand about these settlement amounts, however, is that after you accept a settlement amount, standard language in the agreement that you'll sign may state that you will be unable to file a lawsuit on this specific issue in the future. 

This means that it is imperative that you understand the scope of your injuries and have properly calculated the damages that you've experienced in the past and those you are likely to incur in the future. If you sign a low settlement amount because it seems like a good way to close things out without thoroughly evaluating the strength of your legal claim, you could block your ability to recover maximum compensation, and you could be stuck with those medical bills or other expenses in the future.

Are Car Accident Lawyers Free?

If you're already searching “best free car accident lawyer near me,” you want to work with an attorney who does not charge you for their services. The good news is that this is standard practice in the world of personal injury law, where attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee basis means that your lawyer does not take an upfront payment to represent you in your legal case. Instead, they evaluate the specifics and the potential strength of your case and accept the suit with the possibility of getting paid when the case settles or when the case concludes in court. This both reduces a lot of stress for you by meaning that you do not have to come up with upfront money for a legal retainer, but it also gives your attorney additional motivation to work as hard as possible on your behalf to recover compensation. 

At the conclusion of your lawsuit, the agreement that you signed with your attorney at the outset of the case will determine what you pay. This is usually a percentage of the overall suit. Make sure to discuss the contingency fee arrangement with the lawyer you intend to hire for your personal injury case. You will be responsible for paying certain expenses incurred by your attorney over the course of representing you, such as filing fees, if necessary, and getting medical records copied, if applicable. However, the legal fees associated with your representation will only be paid out of a successful settlement amount. If your attorney is unsuccessful in closing out the lawsuit, either in settlement or in trial, they do not get paid. This makes personal injury attorneys extremely strict when they review personal injury cases. They want to feel confident heading into a case that they can be successful and to get a positive outcome for an injured party. 

You may be required to provide a great deal of information at the outset of sharing your case details so that your lawyer fully understands who is accountable for the injuries you sustained, whether or not you have claims against any potential third parties, and any insurance related challenges that you might experience in this process. Because there are so many different things to think about when hiring a free car accident lawyer, you have a vested interest in selecting an attorney who has a strong track record of success. To learn more about “the best free car accident lawyer near me,” do exhaustive research before scheduling a consultation with a lawyer. Your initial consultation does not require you to sign an engagement agreement with that attorney immediately.

What to Look for in a Free Car Accident Lawyer

Your free car accident lawyer should have a strong track record, reputation, and positive reviews from other clients. You will depend greatly on your free car accident lawyer to fight as hard as possible for the best outcome for you. This means you want to feel good at the outset of your case that you have made the right decision about who to partner with. 

You should also feel confident in your lawyer's consideration of your case, willingness to communicate with you, and overall presentation style. Perhaps for example, you would like to close things out in settlement if that is possible. This means you'll want to look for an attorney who has great negotiation skills and has a strong background in obtaining settlements for clients. This might be a different strategy than if you were looking for someone who is prepared and willing to go to trial at all costs.

 The factors of the working relationship that are most important to you should all be considered when doing your research of law firms and can help you narrow down your list. In an initial consultation, you'll learn more about the lawyer's individual approach. You will both use the information you have found in previous research, as well as your overall sense of what it would be like to work with them, to make a decision about whether to move forward with this attorney. Your lawyer will tell you more about the specific steps that will be followed if you choose to work together and any additional paperwork or evidence you would need to submit for the work engagement. The support of a lawyer can clear up a lot of questions and give you a relatively clear roadmap for what to expect when you've been hurt in an accident.

What will I need to know to speak with my attorney?

Before you meet with your personal injury attorney, you will need to know the steps you've already taken to file a legal claim. For example, if you've already contacted your insurance company about the scope of the accident, bring with you any communication or documents you have already received from them. It is also helpful to have a copy of your policy to make sure that you are aware of any policy limits and any other extenuating circumstances that could influence your ability to recover compensation. Even though you do not need to know all of the details associated with these legal aspects of your claim, it is helpful to provide this information to your personal injury lawyer so they can handle it. 

What if my attorney is not successful in winning the case?

Since most personal injury lawyers take these cases on a contingency fee basis, you are only required to pay them a percentage of the overall winnings in the event of their success. If you are unable to win your claim or to arrive at the successful settlement amount, your lawyer will not be paid. There may be separate issues associated with paying expenses that the law firm incurred in the course of representing you such as copying and shipping expenses. 

What if I can't afford my bills in the meantime?

Many car accident and personal injury victims who have legitimate claims against another party are concerned about not just the long-term, but also the short-term impacts of these issues. This makes it very important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer who will work hard on their behalf, including providing recommendations about what to do in the short term. Some personal injury firms work directly with other lending programs that can help to provide upfront money to personal injury victims. Bear in mind that not every personal injury law firm works with these kinds of companies, but it is one possible avenue to explore. As you are in this process, make sure to keep copies of every single expense that you have related to your accident. It may later come up in the conclusion of your suit as you explain the many ways that your life has been impacted. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in protecting your rights, contact our personal injury team today for a deeper discussion of your options. You can receive a free, no-obligation case evaluation to get you started on the right path. We’re here to help. 

What if my attorney is not successful in winning the case?

Since most personal injury lawyers take these cases on a contingency fee basis, you are only required to pay them a percentage of the overall winnings in the event of their success. If you are unable to win your claim or to arrive at the successful settlement amount, your lawyer will not be paid. There may be separate issues associated with paying expenses that the law firm incurred in the course of representing you such as copying and shipping expenses. 

What if I can't afford my bills in the meantime?

Many car accident and personal injury victims who have legitimate claims against another party are concerned about not just the long-term, but also the short-term impacts of these issues. This makes it very important to retain the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer who will work hard on their behalf, including providing recommendations about what to do in the short term. Some personal injury firms work directly with other lending programs that can help to provide upfront money to personal injury victims. Bear in mind that not every personal injury law firm works with these kinds of companies, but it is one possible avenue to explore. As you are in this process, make sure to keep copies of every single expense that you have related to your accident. It may later come up in the conclusion of your suit as you explain the many ways that your life has been impacted. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in protecting your rights, contact our personal injury team today for a deeper discussion of your options. We’re here to help.