06/16/2021 7 Questions To Ask Your Car Accident Lawyer
The period of time after an auto accident is an opportunity to ask important questions of your car accident lawyer. Even if you have read about New Jersey car accident laws and the legal process, your auto accident attorney will serve as an invaluable source of information. Let’s take a quick look at some of the best questions to pose to your car accident lawyer in New Jersey.
1. Do I have solid legal footing for a personal injury lawsuit?
Your New Jersey car accident lawyer will closely review the details of your case to determine if there is a good chance you will obtain a settlement or a favorable court award. Your attorney will be the one handling settlement discussions and legal arguments on your behalf so you can trust him or her to provide an accurate assessment of your case. If your attorney insists your case does not have legal merit, it is not worth pursuing. However, if there is even a small chance of winning your case, your attorney will delve into additional detail to help you determine if it is in your interest to move forward with a lawsuit.
2. Are auto accident cases one of your specialties?
Some auto accident attorneys in New Jersey handle a wide variety of legal matters. Others strictly specialize in personal injury cases. Some attorneys completely narrow their focus on one type of personal injury. Others limit their practice to a few areas of the law. If your attorney claims to be a jack of all trades instead of a master of none, do not give him or her your business. You need an attorney who has experience handling settlement negotiations and litigation pertaining to auto accidents. This is not to say the New Jersey auto accident attorney you hire should solely focus on car accidents. Rather, auto accident cases should be one of your attorney’s strengths.
3. What kind of damages might be paid?
Your attorney will analyze your auto accident case in New Jersey to determine the full value of your losses that are causally related to the accident. The bottom line is you should receive financial compensation for all of your losses resulting from this unfortunate incident. If you have medical costs, vehicle damage, pain, suffering, lost income, diminished earning capacity or other losses, your attorney will identify them on your behalf and seek legal compensation to make you financially whole again. Your northern NJ car accident attorney will fiercely advocate on your behalf to maximize your potential financial compensation either through an out of court settlement or a court award.
4. How long will it take to obtain a settlement or a court award?
There is no guarantee your auto accident in New Jersey will culminate in a lucrative financial award. However, with the right attorney on your side, your chances of obtaining meaningful financial compensation are that much better. It might take as little as a couple weeks or a month to reach a financial settlement. However, if your case goes to litigation, it will take months or even as long as a year to obtain a court award or another resolution. The complexity of your specific case along with the court’s caseload ultimately determines the timeline of your case.
5. Is there anything I can do to help obtain a favorable court award or settlement?
Yes! There is plenty you can do to help boost your chances of winning your case. If your attorney reaches out to you for more information such as pictures of the accident scene, the name of the doctor you have been visiting with or other information related to your case, respond to those questions and requests as soon as possible.
Do not interact with the insurance company that represents the other driver. Do not admit fault in any way. Rather, let our New Jersey real estate attorney handle your case on your behalf. We will engage in all settlement discussions and represent you in a court of law. We advise that you remain off of social media so you do not compromise your case. Attend all of your medical appointments as scheduled, obtain receipts along with medical records and forward all relevant information to your attorney for review.
6. How will you keep me in the loop?
The last thing you want is to be left hanging for days or even weeks after your initial consultation. You need and deserve a New Jersey car accident lawyer who will proactively reach out to you with periodic case updates. Make it clear as to how you would like to be contacted, be it by phone, email, text or in-person. Ideally, your attorney will provide a case update at least once every week or two. Be patient, keep the lines of communication open and be willing to interact with paralegals, litigation assistants and other support staff so you know exactly what is going on with your case.
7. Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?
In general, it is a bad idea to accept the first settlement offer from the insurance company. Ideally, you will not interact with the insurance provider. Let your northern NJ car accident attorney handle those discussions on your behalf. Do not provide any recorded statements, fill out paperwork or entertain a settlement offer until your northern New Jersey auto accident attorney has an opportunity to review such documents and requests on your behalf.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Bavagnoli & Bavagnoli
Have you been in an auto accident or suffered another personal injury due to another party’s carelessness? Our legal team is here to review your case and determine if one or several other parties were negligent. Contact us today at (973) 785-9522 to schedule your no-cost initial consultation. You can also reach us online by completing our contact form.
