Car accidents, unfortunately, are often inevitable. Whether from small dings from a botched turn, a scratch on your car in a parking lot while you were at dinner, or something more serious against your control, getting your money back is important, especially if you were injured. This is where car accident attorneys come in. However, hiring one doesn’t solve all your problems immediately without asking questions. Here’s four questions to ask your Escondido attorney.
Of course, the most immediate question for your attorney is simple; what do I do after my accident? If you’ve never been in a car accident before, this question becomes even more prudent. There may be paperwork to file you’ve never heard of, people to contact you’ve never considered, and a variety of other important tidbits of information contained in this relatively short question. This is especially true if you need to file a police report after an accident, as you want to avoid admitting fault for anything in order to ensure you get the most out of your time.
The next question to ask, if money is tight, is if they do their work pro bono. Pro bono is a latin phrase, meaning simply; professional work done for the public, free of charge. The attorney may consider this an option if they believe the case will be a straightforward victory, where you really only need an attorney to make sure you do everything right, not to prove your innocence. Some attorneys may not do their work pro bono, but in this case, they may waive fees for a cut of the damages, which prevents you from spending anything out of pocket, becoming a win for both parties.
But payment and planning aren’t the only steps for an attorney representing your case. The most important question you can ask is “what will you do for my case?” This question is an all encompassing one for the majority of issues you may face. For example, the question covers whether the attorney will fight for damages of all sorts, such as vehicular damages, injury related damages, or even damages related to the mental toll of the accident, such as post traumatic stress. Additionally, the attorney should be able to outline how they’ll carry out your case. With this info, you can determine if the attorney is right for you, and make sure you get the most out of your money and time.
An accident trial may take only a little time. It could even be open and shut, allowing you to not stress for a very long time to get your damages owed. However, not every issue is prevalent immediately after an accident. A mechanic may miss damages to the vehicle that shows up later due to the accident, and medical issues are notoriously stealthy when they want to be. Ask your attorney if they’ll fight for future damages for these cases. Covering this base can ease your worries for your livelihood further down the road.
Of course, these questions aren’t the only applicable ones for your accident, but they are some of the most important. These questions help with figuring out your actions immediately after an accident, to negotiating a lower fee; or none at all; and covering all current and future damages in your case. Whatever the circumstances of your accident, these questions cover the majority of your important tasks, and provide a clear path forward for your case. Rest easy knowing a trustworthy Escondido car accident attorney like Marino & Tye is working for your benefit, and good luck on getting your damages paid!