Car Accident Lawyer Questions Answered – Finding the Right Attorney

Choosing a car accident lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will make after being injured in an automobile accident. This decision will likely have a significant impact on your life from this point forward. The lawyer you choose affects how much compensation you receive, how smoothly your case proceeds, and how much stress you experience during an already difficult time. Understanding what to look for and what questions to ask helps you make an informed decision.

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Most people have never needed a car accident lawyer before and don’t know where to start. They search online, see billboards, or hear radio advertisements, but they have no way of knowing whether the lawyers behind those marketing campaigns will actually deliver results. The reality is that unless you know the right questions to ask, you won’t know until your case is over whether or not the lawyer you chose has the expertise, work ethic, or respect of their adversaries, all of which are necessary to get the job done right.

This guide answers the most common questions people have when searching for a car accident lawyer in Texas. Armed with this information, you can make a better decision about who will represent you and fight for the compensation you deserve.

What If a Big Law Firm Already Turned Down My Case?

It is important to note that even if a law firm has already declined your case, it does not necessarily mean you do not have a viable claim. The fact is that many big-name law firms simply do not take cases that are not big enough for them. If you have a whiplash-type injury and do not have broken bones, torn ligaments, or the need for surgery, these firms feel that they will not make a large enough fee to make it worthwhile.

Those people who find a big-name law firm willing to accept their case are often disillusioned when, among other things, their phone calls go unanswered, they are passed off to a paralegal or secretary, or their settlement leaves them with less money than the law firm and doctors received. The importance of an attorney’s personal attention to a client’s case cannot be stressed enough.

Unfortunately, the dynamics of a large firm dictate that the average case, which the vast majority of cases are, is not given the same attention as the large cases in such a firm. As a result, cases that appear average on their face are never allowed to reach their true value, even though many cases that seem average are anything but.

Why Does Attorney Attention Matter So Much?

For instance, it is very rare for an attorney who handles multi-million dollar cases to bother reading the medical records on an average case until it is time to discuss settlement with the defendant’s insurance company. Failure to review medical records as they come in makes it impossible for a good car accident attorney to make appropriate suggestions for referrals to specialists if symptoms indicate a more serious injury than what appears to be simple whiplash.

For example, when a client is complaining about pain or numbness traveling into their arms or legs, the first thing a good car accident lawyer should suspect is a disc injury in the client’s neck or back. A disc is like a shock absorber sandwiched between each of the vertebrae in the spine. When a disc is ruptured or herniated, it can put pressure on the nerves that go from the spine to the arms or legs, causing the pain or numbness the client is experiencing.

The first thing a car accident lawyer should look for is whether an MRI has been performed to diagnose whether a disc has been injured. An MRI takes pictures of soft tissue in the body that cannot be seen in an x-ray. If an MRI has not been performed, the lawyer should find out why and whether the treating physician intends to prescribe one.

If an MRI has been performed and a disc injury is discovered, a good car accident lawyer will check whether the client has been referred to an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. Knowing what doctor you are being referred to before seeing that doctor is essential. If your lawyer is too busy to monitor your care, you could end up in the office of someone who can hurt your case, even if they are a quality physician.

Will My Car Accident Lawyer Refer Me to a Doctor?

Most people who seek representation after a car accident do not have physicians they can turn to for treatment of sudden injuries. Therefore, most clients ask their car accident lawyer to refer them to appropriate medical providers. The doctors that experienced car accident attorneys refer clients to have been carefully screened and are well known to them. This ensures clients receive the best care available to restore their health and that their treating physicians will provide effective testimony supporting their case.

Clients who already have their own doctor, or were referred to a doctor through the emergency room, a primary care physician, or a friend, must be able to rely on their car accident attorney to keep a close eye on their care. While most of these clients do not experience problems, clients should understand that people who seem anxious or insistent that you see their doctor are not always motivated by concern for your well-being.

The fact is some doctors pay people to refer patients to their offices in return for money. These people can be tow truck drivers, body shop employees, emergency medical personnel, and even friends. More often than not, these doctors are not the best, and it is a good idea to seek a second opinion if you have already seen a doctor referred by someone you do not trust completely.

If a doctor, or someone acting on behalf of a doctor, offers you any money or gifts to treat with that doctor, leave that office immediately and inform your car accident lawyer. Over the years, too many people with serious, indisputable injuries have received little or no compensation because their doctor was caught participating in fraudulent activities.

What About Medical Bills When My Case Settles?

Another important consideration is your doctor’s willingness to work with your car accident lawyer when trying to resolve any remaining balances owed when your case settles. Reputable doctors who work with car accident attorneys are willing to reduce significantly or, on many occasions, entirely waive their balances if the settlement is not substantial.

Unfortunately, many doctors out there will demand payment of their entire bill, even if that means the client receives little or no money from their settlement. These doctors tell clients they will treat them for free if they have no health insurance and wait until the case settles for payment. However, settlements or verdicts do not always produce enough money to cover medical bills, attorney fees, and leave money for the client.

When this happens, doctors who have worked with your car accident lawyer before understand they should share the risk that you and your lawyer accepted when the case began and reduce their fees accordingly. A doctor is legally entitled to seek payment in full, but if your lawyer does not have an established relationship with that provider, the doctor may be the only one who makes any money from your injury.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today

Finding the right car accident lawyer means finding someone who will give your case the attention it deserves, monitor your medical treatment carefully, and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Don’t assume that the biggest advertising budget means the best results for your case.

Car accident lawyers offer free consultations to discuss your case and explain how they can help. Most work on contingency, meaning you pay no fees unless they recover compensation for you. Take the time to ask questions, understand the process, and choose a lawyer who will treat your case as a priority. Your recovery and your future depend on making the right choice.

Car Accident Lawyer Questions Answered – Finding the Right Attorney in Texas