Following an ill-fated car accident, it is always wise to contact an attorney. Indiana is an at-fault state, so you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the party at fault, seeking compensation for your damages. The right attorney can pursue your case aggressively, so that the settlement is maximized. If you are hiring a Fort Wayne car accident lawyer for the first time, you may want to avoid these mistakes listed below.
- Not sharing all details. You cannot expect an accident lawyer to help, if you are not sharing all relevant details of the case. If you were partly at fault, let your lawyer know, because the other party may try to pin to the entire blame on you. There is no point of being secretive with a car accident lawyer.
- Not asking about experience. Personal injury lawsuits cover a wide range of cases, including medical malpractice and defective product lawsuits. You need an attorney, who handles car accident claims and lawsuits in particular. Make sure that you ask about their top cases, settlements, and landmark career moments. Also, you can seek a few client references in Fort Wayne.
- Not discussing the financials. You have to consider discussing the financials with your car accident lawyer. Personal injury attorneys often work on a contingency basis, but that depends on many factors of the case. There might be other court costs and investigation expenses, so ask your attorney as how you can manage the financials better. If a car accident lawyer works on a contingency fee, they may charge anywhere between 25% and 40% of the settlement for their work.
Meeting an accident lawyer
Each car accident can have unique circumstances. Indiana’s statute of limitations only allows two years to file personal injury lawsuits, from the date of the accident. In other words, you have limited time, and you would want to have enough scope to file a personal injury lawsuit later. Meet an attorney as soon as possible after the accident, so that they can investigate the matter, gather evidence, and work on the merits of your claim. The good news is most car accident lawyers in Indiana will be happy to offer a free initial consultation. This could be a great way to know the possible outcomes of your case.
Ask the attorney in advance about their availability. Also, do take all evidence and documents related to the case for your first meeting.
