What Questions Should I Ask My Evansville Car Accident Lawyer?

September 10, 2024

A major car accident can be a devastating event, inflicting punishing injuries that could break the bank of the average family.  Fortunately, you may be eligible to seek compensation if you have been wrongfully injured in a crash in Evansville, and professional legal assistance could improve your chances of success.  Interviewing prospective attorneys is one of the best means of assessing them, so join us as we go over some topics that you could discuss if you are wondering “What questions should I ask my Evansville car accident lawyer?” 

Your Evansville Car Accident Attorney Should Be Ready on Day One 

Your Evansville car accident attorney should be ready on day one to fend off the challenges posed by the at-fault parties and their insurance companies, and the degree to which a lawyer is prepared to respond to essential questions could reveal whether he or she can take your case all the way. 

With this goal in mind, the following questions could help you evaluate an attorney under consideration. 

Question 1. How Much Is My Case Worth? 

This is something of a trick question, since it would be a red flag if a candidate agreed to provide you with a number.  A skilled Evansville car accident lawyer will always strive to get you top dollar for your case, but there are probably far too many variables in play at this stage for the case’s actual value to be knowable.   

The circumstances leading up to the collision, the damages incurred from it, and the insurance coverage and assets of the defendants will all heavily influence how much you might receive or even if you can receive anything at all.  Anyone who would come up with a specific figure before acquiring this information is either naïve or misleading you, neither of which are qualities that you would want in your Evansville car accident attorney. 

Question 2. How Long Does an Evansville Car Accident Case Take?  

This is similarly a question to which an honest lawyer would be reluctant to give a definitive answer because of the range of factors that could speed up or slow down the timeline for your case. 

Your attorney should be able to explain the relevance of the Statute of Limitations, which is the window in which you are permitted to file suit in Indiana.  The Statute for a car accident case in the state is typically two years after the crash.  However, your own case could be resolved in much less time than that, or it could take much more time to reach a conclusion (assuming that a lawsuit gets filed before the Statute elapses). 

Though it is important not to delay justice, a seasoned Evansville car accident lawyer will never compromise your case in order to meet an arbitrary deadline, and it is a good indicator if an attorney is open about any uncertainties from the start instead of hiding them until you sign a retainer.   

Question 3. Have You Ever Gone to Trial? 

While Evansville car accident cases are usually settled outside of court, a trial may sometimes be necessary.  If that should happen, a lawyer who can compellingly convey your losses to a jury is far likelier to secure a verdict in your favor.   

Even if you don’t end up in court, an insurer may still be more generous during negotiations with an attorney who can credibly threaten to take your case to trial instead of a lawyer who consistently settles for less out of fear of the courtroom, which could put more money in your pocket. 

Question 4. What Will Hiring You Cost? 

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, so it should cost you nothing up front to hire them, and they might also pick up some of the preliminary fees associated with your case, like the price of ordering a police report or filing a lawsuit.  Only after winning your case will your lawyer be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses and paid for services rendered, generally out of your final settlement or verdict. 

Consequently, you should be wary of Evansville car accident attorneys who request payment before getting to work, since it may cast doubt on their intentions as well as their belief in your case. 

Evansville Car Accident Lawyers Who Can Build the Strongest Case Possible 

It can be hard to decide what to do or where to turn after a serious car accident, so it is crucial to team up with first-rate legal practitioners who can build the strongest case possible, like the dedicated Evansville car accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group. 

You can schedule a free case review to put our Evansville car accident attorneys to the test by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or filling out our contact form today.