How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer in Washington, DC

Five Things to Evaluate in a DC Car Accident Lawyer

As much as you’d like to be able to trust any and every law firm to represent you well, the reality is that not all law firms and lawyers are equally adept. A personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents will have experience investigating the accident, gathering facts, and dealing with insurance representatives and law enforcement, as well as legal knowledge and experience with settlements and arguing for a verdict. The following five factors will help you evaluate potential firms and lawyers who can handle your case.

Specialty: Many lawyers and firms will specialize in certain kinds of cases. Even a personal injury firm, which sounds like a specialty already, may further drill down into more specific cases. As you review the website of a potential lawyer, you should review the pages for the kinds of injuries they handle to ensure car accidents are within their forte. This is the first factor to consider when choosing the best car accident lawyer for your case.

Experience: As you review the settlements and verdicts a potential lawyer has recovered, you will begin to get an idea of how much experience they have in cases like yours. If the personal injury lawyer you’re considering has many recoveries for slip and fall accidents but few or none for car accidents, you should look for a different lawyer who has a track record of successfully dealing with car accidents. Additionally, you’ll want to review how much experience the lawyer has practicing law. A brand new attorney may not have the experience and knowledge necessary to win you the compensation you deserve. An established firm with many decades of cumulative experience will be able to represent you well, even if some of the lawyers are just getting started.

Client Experience: You will be communicating regularly with your attorney or firm throughout the duration of your car accident claim. A firm or lawyer who does not share any client testimonials may not have a client-focused approach and therefore may not be someone you want to work closely with. You can also use other Internet resources to gather information on the lawyer or firm’s attorney-client relationship focus. Google, LinkedIn, lawyer directories, and social media platforms may allow you access to a broad array of reviews and testimonials that provide a full picture of the client experience. You may evaluate the client experience by asking the following questions: Does the attorney have a website and/or professional online presence? Is a call to the office answered? How long does it take to be connected to the attorney? Are there online and in-person consultation options? Is the attorney thorough with an initial consultation?

Reputation: You can get a measure of an attorney’s reputation by asking questions or reviewing bios to see how committed they are to continued professional growth. Attorneys that are receiving certificates, awards, or are affiliated with well-known education institutions are more likely to be constantly pushing themselves to be the best they can be for their clients. During a consultation, you might ask a potential lawyer about extra classes or professional learning opportunities they have participated in lately.

Cost: Some personal injury law firms in the DC area, such as Regan Zambri Long PLLC, operate on a contingency basis, meaning we collect our fee from a portion of your total settlement. You don’t pay anything upfront, and if we don’t recover in your favor, you don’t have to pay. Other lawyers and firms may require you to pay a fee before they begin working on your case. Although you will want to compare prices and quotes from different attorneys and firms, you will want to remember that the cheapest option is not always going to be the best. The more complex the case, the more costly an attorney will be—but it will also be more beneficial in the long run for you to have the best representation you can afford.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a DC Car Accident Attorney

Before choosing to hire an attorney, you should speak with several lawyers you think might be a good fit and ask questions about the following topics:

• Fees: you want to know how your lawyer will expect to be paid and ensure that it aligns with your expectations and abilities. You will also want to be clear whether you will be billed if your case does not win any settlement or verdict.
• Time: you might ask prospective attorneys how much time they have to spend on your case or how many cases they take on at a given time. An attorney with a heavy caseload may not be able to give you the time you need to feel confident in your case. Additionally, you can ask questions about their initial thoughts on how long your case might take to be resolved. While an attorney can’t control every factor, you want one with enough experience to make an educated estimation.
• Value: an experienced car accident attorney will also be able to give you an educated estimate on what your case may be worth—though it is important to remember that many factors could make an attorney’s estimate turn out to be far from reality. An estimate is not a guarantee of value.
• Your involvement: you should speak with prospective attorneys about how much they expect you to be involved and how much you want or expect to be involved. You cannot be completely left out of your car accident claim, but different lawyers may expect different levels of participation throughout the process.

Choosing the Best of the Best Among Car Accident Lawyers in DC

The attorney you hire to represent you will be your best chance at recovering the compensation you are due after a car accident. You want a lawyer you can easily reach and who is attentive to you and your case from the very first consultation.

It is possible to be a quality attorney without accolades, but many attorneys and firms receive national recognition for their excellence in practice. Regan Zambri Long PLLC’s attorneys have been recognized locally and nationally for their superior legal service in Washington, DC. We are a small firm with big resources, able to give you the small firm attention while taking on and winning big cases.

With cumulative decades of experience, our attorneys can bring it all to bear on your car accident case and win you the compensation you deserve. We don’t collect any fees until we’ve recovered in your favor, so you can rest assured knowing that we are on your side, putting your interests first.

Call Regan Zambri Long today to schedule your free initial consultation.