There are nearly 6 million car crashes in the United States every year.

Roughly 2 million drivers in auto accidents every year will experience permanent injuries as a result of the crash.

Have you been injured in a car accident and are wondering how to find the best car accident lawyer?

Let’s take a look at how to choose the best car accident attorney and what you should do after a car accident.

1. Ask For Referrals

Referrals are one of the best ways to hone in on any product or service that you are looking to obtain. With something as important as finding a car accident lawyer in Houston, asking for referrals is absolutely essential.

Referrals can help you to save time, as you might be able to find the best car accident lawyer without weeding through Yellow Pages. This is essential, as time is of the essence when you are looking for representation after a car accident.

You can ask any relatives or friends that you now have hired a personal injury attorney in the past. You can also ask attorneys for references from past clients. It’s well worth it to take the time to call these past clients and ask them a number of questions regarding their experience with the attorney and law firm.

2. Find Someone With Experience

It is, first of all, important to find a Houston car accident lawyer that has quite a bit of experience. On top of that, though, you want to find somebody who had experience with cases that are similar to yours.

You want to ask any attorney that you’re considering hiring how much experience they have in cases that have similar circumstances as your particular case. You can also find out what the payout track record is for this attorney in cases that are similar to yours.

3. Understand the Fees

It’s very important to understand the fee structure for hiring a lawyer. Being involved in a lawsuit can be both a lengthy and costly endeavor, and you’ll want to make sure that you know what you’re signing up for before you do.

Most lawyers charge clients a percentage of a settlement package. In many cases, lawyers will not require payment if they do not win the case.

Other lawyers might charge clients based on different factors, however. You always want to ask ahead of time so that you can way out your options and understand which one makes the most sense for you.

4. Find a Firm That Is Well-Respected and Reputable

When you hire a car accident lawyer, you want to know that they work with a reputable firm that is well respected in the community. Their place at a respectable firm is something that will provide any lawyer with a more successful network and also hold them accountable. This helps to give you confidence in the likelihood of success in your case.

It’s important to find a respectable firm though it can take some digging. Take a look at the track record of firm in your area, their history of good client relationships, and the length of time they’ve been serving the community.

You can also take a look at the reviews that previous clients have left. This can help to give you a sense of the experience that other people had working with the law firm.

5. Choose a Car Accident Lawyer You Like Working With

One thing that many people might overlook when looking for an attorney is that it’s important to find somebody that you can stand working with. It is very common for legal cases to take a very long time from start to finish. What this means, is that you will likely be working with the same lawyer for months if not years.

It can be a good idea to meet with several different lawyers and see who you feel most comfortable with. It is, of course, not necessary for you to be friends with your lawyer, but you will want to feel comfortable with them and feel confident in their abilities.

6. Avoid the Jack-of-All-Trades Lawyers

Some lawyers claim to do it all. While that might not seem like a problem, the reality is that they likely don’t have very much experience in any particular type of case.

If you find some lawyers that seem to represent a car accident case one day and then are defending someone on drug charges the next, you might find that they don’t have a deep understanding of exactly how car accident cases work.

When you’re looking for a lawyer you’re looking for someone who can help you to get the compensation that you deserve. If you hire someone who seems to represent all different kinds of cases, you are likely not going to get the settlement or outcome that you are looking for.

7. Do a Background Check Online

You can always look up lawyers on the local State Bar Associations. This is an important step, because if they do not appear listed on the site, that is likely that they don’t have the required qualifications to represent your case.

You can also take a look at the Facebook page for the firm or for the attorney. This can help give you a sense of what current or prior clients have posted. It also gives you a chance to get a better sense of who the attorney is both personally and professionally.

8. Book an Appointment and Have Questions Ready

You can do a lot of research before contacting the firm or attorney, but there’s some things you can’t know until you have booked an appointment with them. You can tell a lot about a law firm by the state of their office. Remember, you want to get the highest compensation possible that you deserve from your accident.

You can also gauge the level of customer care that you receive when you arrive for your appointment. This can help be an indicator of the type of care you will receive as a client. If you feel that the customer care is lacking, you might just be best off finding another law firm.

What to Do After a Car Accident

Whether the car accident you have been in is minor or major, having an auto accident is incredibly stressful. During this time, is important to do your best to stay focused and calm.

The absolutely most important thing consider after a car accident and safety. If you or anyone else is injured, seeking proper medical attention is the top priority.

The vehicles involved can be moved out of traffic to a safer location if the car accident is minor. You will then want to put your vehicle in park, turn it off, and turn your hazard lights on.

If possible, put out flares, warning triangles, or cones as an added safety precaution.

The next thing you want to do is check for injuries. It’s best to call an ambulance if you aren’t sure. Even if the accident is minor, you’ll also want to call the police.

You’ll want to gather necessary information from everyone that was involved in the accident. This includes:

• The names and contact information of other drivers and passengers
• License plate numbers and driver’s license numbers
• The make, model, and year of the involved vehicles
• Insurance carriers and policy numbers
• The location or address of the accident
• The name and contact information of any eyewitnesses
• The name and badge number of involved police officers

If it is safe to do so, you also want to take photos of the accident scene and all of the vehicles involved. It’s important that you don’t sign any documents at this time unless it is for a police officer or your insurance agent.

Even if the accident was your fault, or you think it was, it’s important that you do not say so.

You’ll need to inform your insurance company of the accident. You’ll also want to get in touch with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Are you curious about the common causes of distracted driving? Take a look at our article on this topic.

Are You In Search of the Best Houston Car Accident Lawyer?

The personal injury claims process can be incredibly complicated. Here at Ivey Law Firm, P.C., we have the experience to help you navigate the process.

Have you been last injured due to the reckless or negligent actions of another diver in Texas? If so, we are here to help. We will do what we can to secure what you need for a fair and full recovery and to help minimize your suffering.

Contact us today to make an appointment to meet with an attorney.