Where Can I Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Waltham?

If you sustained serious injuries in a car accident or slip and fall incident at your local grocery store, one of the most important steps you need to take is choosing a lawyer to represent your case. However, trying to find a lawyer in Waltham isn't as simple as calling the first firm that pops up in a Google search. First, you have to consider their level of experience, track record, and how much their services will cost. 

So, where do you begin your search? Read on to learn some essential tips to help make the process less overwhelming and ensure you hire the right attorney for the job. 

Begin Your List of Potential Waltham Car Accident Lawyers 

Everything is done online nowadays, including researching prospective attorneys to represent your car accident case. Before picking up the phone and scheduling an appointment with the first law office on your search results, find additional options with these sources: 

Friends and Family

If you want a lawyer with the ability and professionalism needed in a car accident case, your friends and family are your best source for recommendations. Not only can they provide you with valuable insight about how the personal injury claim process works, but they can tell you about what they liked (and didn't) about their experience. 

You can also get trusted legal referrals from many of the below circles acquaintances in your life: 

• Church members
• Your doctor
• Sports buddies
• Social media groups you participate in
• Workout partners and coaches

The reason you should consider their input on who to trust your case with is their knowledge of your day-to-day life and family. They know how the injuries you've sustained have impacted your career and the struggles you are now facing, so your best interests are at the forefront of their mind when referring attorneys. 

Check Online Reviews 

Online reviews have quickly become the digital extension of word-of-mouth recommendations in the legal industry. But, online comments and ratings on lawyer websites, and even some search engines, should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, verifying facts from fiction when researching information about a car accident attorney in Waltham is a challenge. Still, there are reputable sites dedicated to giving you honest opinions about law firms and legal professionals.

First, start with the Bar association in your state. This organization is a large association of lawyers in your state and provides a wealth of verifiable information, including:

• Date of admission to the Bar
• Jurisdiction of practice
• Contact information
• General legal information
• Status in the Bar

There may also be links to their website, disciplinary action notes, and more. You can also check out online lawyer directories, which incorporate much of the information found on a Bar association website. These sites also have additional features like reviews and ratings.
 
Always keep in mind that internet research should not be your sole basis for deciding to hire a car accident lawyer in Waltham. Whenever possible, reach out to someone you know who has worked with the firm you are considering to learn more about the client's experience. 

Be Skeptical of Legal Advertisements

While it may be easier to remember an attorney with a catchy tune or emotionally motivated tv commercial, this level of advertising isn't necessary when a firm is successful. Choose a firm that focuses its efforts on making its legal services more accessible and valuable to those they serve. A skilled accident lawyer in Waltham should rely on firsthand recommendations and an indisputable track record of success. 

Other red flags that signal an attorney should be avoided are:

• Claims your case can get settled quickly
• Has little or no client reviews
• Poor feedback
• Assigns a dollar value to your claim
• Doesn't have a notable trial record
• Is vague about the strategy they would use for your accident case
• Doesn't provide a fee agreement in writing 

What to Ask at Your First Consultation With Your Car Accident Lawyer in Waltham

Consultations are a crucial part of the vetting process when choosing who should represent your personal injury case after being in a car accident. Therefore, you should treat these meetings like an interview and be prepared to ask many questions. To help narrow down your list of experienced prospects, make sure to discuss the following topics during your initial appointment: 

Training

Obviously, your attorney should have a law degree, but they should have additional specialized training to ensure your case is adequately represented. If you're worried about sounding rude by asking about their education, don't be! Whoever you consult with should be eager to share this information with you and not be insulted that you would want more information. 

Consider the following questions to get the conversation started:

• What types of car accident-related law classes or studies have you completed?
• How frequently do you represent motor vehicle crashes? Do you collaborate with other attorneys on these cases? 
• Do you have any publications you've written regarding this type of case law?
• What strategies do you typically rely on for cases similar to mine?

By asking these questions, you can better evaluate the level of skill and training your prospective attorney has gotten during their years of practice.

Legal Fee Payment

Another factor influencing your decision to hire a car accident lawyer in Waltham is how they expect to be paid. Let's face it. After a devastating crash, you've probably missed a significant amount of work while recovering, have thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and your regular costs of living have started to pile up, too. Any personal injury attorney worth their salt will know this and make their services more accessible through the use of a contingency fee system. 

This means you don't pay anything unless they successfully settle your case or win a jury award on your behalf in court. You should be able to review these terms in writing and not be pressured to agree right away. It's important to understand how much of a percentage they will keep of your final compensation amount should your claim be successful, as well as what out-of-pocket expenses they might also take on top of their fee. 

Much of the following may not be covered by a contingency agreement:

• Postage
• Filing fees
• Costs related to gathering evidence (document requests)

When you do agree to hire an attorney, the fee agreement needs to be clearly stated in writing.

Determine Who Will Personally Handle Your Case 

If you called and booked a consultation with an attorney, make sure you meet with the person who will personally handle your case. Often, law firms have a lawyer who acts as the face of the practice in any media used for advertising. Unfortunately, this can be somewhat misleading when setting up an appointment because you might think that is the individual you'll be interviewing when in fact, it's not. 

Larger firms often have associate attorneys that they will pass cases onto after conducting an initial assessment. And, this doesn't mean you won't have someone that is perfect for representing your claim, but if you're going to trust your best interests with them, you should know who they are and be in contact with them. This is why they should inform you from the beginning who will manage your injury case.

Also, if you discover that you won't have easy access to the lawyer assigned to your car accident claim, you may want to consider a different law firm altogether. You will have a reasonable amount of anxiety about your legal matter and deserve to be kept in the loop about what progress is being made.

Your Instincts are Valid

Always trust your gut when interviewing car accident lawyers in Waltham. If something doesn't feel right and you can't get a straight answer to address your misgivings, reach out to a different law firm instead.  

You deserve legal representation that makes you feel secure and confident, as well as helps lift some of the stress off of your shoulders during this challenging time. Firms like Morgan & Morgan go out of the way to explain openly and honestly the strengths and challenges that might arise in your case. We know that verdicts and settlement numbers are essential, and we ensure the quality of advocacy you receive during this process. This is why you should only choose representation that makes you feel like someone who is cared about.