Do I need a lawyer for my car accident? That is certainly a question that can arise in the wake of a crash, and in some cases, the answer to that question is yes, you should seek counsel from one of our Michigan car accident attorneys. This page will not only help you determine the answer to that question but also how to find the right attorney.
While not every person involved in a Michigan motor vehicle collision needs legal representation, the truth is, if you’ve been seriously injured, having an attorney on your side is in your best interest. Every accident differs in facts, contributing factors, available auto insurance coverages, and other essential elements. Knowing for sure whether or not you need a skilled Michigan auto accident attorney for your specific case may require a brief consultation to determine whether or not legal assistance is necessary. Our auto accident legal team is happy to discuss your options in a totally free initial auto accident consultation. You can call us or submit an online form and we will be in touch promptly.
Under our contingency fee arrangement, no attorney fees are ever owed until we recover money for you.
After you answer “do I need a lawyer for my car accident?” you now have to determine how to find the right attorney to represent your case. Many attorneys advertise on television, radio, billboards, and even on park benches. This advertising is done for much the same reasons as political candidate campaign advertisement, and that is to create name recognition. However, in the case of advertisements by a political candidate, the frequency, size, or a number of advertisements does not mean the candidate is the best one for elected office. This is also true with lawyers who advertise, however frequently or cleverly. There are several questions that a person who is injured in a car accident should know the answers to before making the important decision of which “candidate” will best serve the individual needs of the injured person. The questions that should be answered include:
In this WLAJ In the Name of the Law, George, and Steve Sinas discuss the attorney selection process.
There are other questions that will be important depending on the facts and circumstances of the particular kind of injuries and how the accident occurred. The primary value of asking these questions and personally meeting (or Zooming) with a lawyer is to engage in a conversation to help assess the “fit” and relationship as well as to determine the level of experience and past success the lawyer has achieved. It is usually a good idea to meet or speak with more than one lawyer before making a choice on which “candidate” is best suited for your individual needs. Frequently, the very best and most respected attorneys do minimal to no television, radio, or billboard advertising. Thus, name recognition from endless advertising may mean very little to the question of which lawyer to choose. Ask friends, relatives, physicians, therapists, and other lawyers whether they have heard positive information or feedback on a particular lawyer. For example, an estate planning lawyer may not represent injured people but may have great knowledge of who are the most highly regarded lawyers and law firms.
There will be a lengthy and, hopefully, personal relationship with the lawyer that is chosen. It is not unusual for an injury case to go on in the court system for two years. It is important that the lawyer and client are a team with mutual trust, honesty, and effective communication. Spending some time and thought assessing a candidate to be your attorney will lead to a less stressful and, hopefully, more successful process and outcome. In Michigan, it’s important that if the answer to “do I need a lawyer for my car accident” is yes, then you need to make sure that the attorney is highly knowledgable when it comes to Michigan Auto No-Fault Law. At Sinas Dramis Law Firm, we pride ourselves on being known as the leading experts in the area of law and can help you navigate the difficult system.