What to Ask an Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer

There is a good chance that you or someone you know will get into a car accident at some point if you live in the Indianapolis area, which saw 37,003 collisions in 2021 alone. While compensation for an Indianapolis car accident may be available with the help of a skilled attorney, how do you choose […]

May 10, 2024

Questions a Car Accident Lawyer Should Be Able to Answer

After some online research and discussions with friends and family members who have worked with car accident attorneys before, you may have assembled a list of candidates. Now it is time to narrow down that list, and one of the best ways to do that is to ask questions face to face.

To ensure that you are prepared for these interviews, here are some frequently asked questions that an Indianapolis car accident lawyer should be able to answer.

Question 1. Why Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney?

Before hiring an attorney, it is only fair to ask why you need one in the first place. While you are certainly entitled to represent yourself, there are benefits to professional legal representation that a knowledgeable lawyer will be capable of explaining. For example, this may be your first serious car accident, but it won’t be the first for the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim, who may exploit your relative inexperience to settle your case for less, or even deny it altogether.

In contrast, a veteran attorney will have the experience to meet the insurance company on a level playing field, recognizing the classic insurance industry tactics and successfully fending them off. Moreover, your lawyer will be better equipped to assess the value of your case and will endeavor to equal or exceed that number during negotiations. This is a key reason why plaintiffs with attorneys statistically obtain settlements and verdicts that are 3.5 times higher than those obtained by plaintiffs without them.

Question 2. How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

This is something of a trick question. While a car accident lawyer can secure significantly more money for an injured motorist, you should be wary of any attorney who promises you a specific dollar amount, especially so early in the process.

The reality is that every car accident case is unique. How much you can receive may depend upon a wide range of factors, such as the circumstances leading up to your accident, the damages you incur, and the insurance coverage and assets of the defendants, among others.

A proficient Indianapolis car accident lawyer will always try to get you compensated for all of your losses, whether short-term or long-term, monetary or non-monetary. But given how many different variables there might be, an attorney who is willing to name a figure during a preliminary consultation is being either misleading or naïve, neither of which should inspire much confidence.

Question 3. How Many Cases Have You Tried?

While most car accident cases are settled outside of court, sometimes it is necessary to go to trial. If that should happen, a seasoned litigator will be indispensable.

Plaintiffs who represent themselves at trial only win about 4 percent of the time, but plaintiffs with lawyers are likelier to win more often than not. However, how well you do will be heavily influenced by how strongly your case is presented to the jury, which is why you should look for an attorney with a proven track record in the courtroom.

Question 4. What Does It Cost to Retain You?

If a prospective lawyer demands funds from you up front, that is a major red flag. Most car accident attorneys – like the accomplished Indianapolis car accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group – work on a contingency basis. This means that you will not have to provide them with an initial payment, and they may even cover some of the costs associated with your case.

Only after a favorable resolution will your attorney seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and a fee for services rendered, typically as a percentage of your verdict or settlement. A car accident lawyer who believes in your case will assume all of the risks involved in getting you justice – and you should question the motivations of one who won’t.

Reach Out to Our Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers

We hope you have found this article useful. And if you have been hurt in a car accident in Indianapolis, we definitely hope you reach out to the Indianapolis car accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for honest Hoosiers just like you for more than 25 years.

You can arrange a free case review with a dedicated Indianapolis car accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.