During the initial hours and days after a Dallas car accident, your focus is on healing from the physical injuries and the emotional trauma, but when accident expenses pile up and someone else was responsible for your accident, you may ask, “How do I choose the best Dallas car accident lawyer for my case?”
Under Texas Civil Code Sec. 33.001, the burden of proof demonstrating the at-fault party’s liability and the full extent of your damages is on you as the injury victim and claimant. Knowing how to choose the right attorney for your Texas car accident claim is crucial.
First, Look for an Attorney Offering a Free Consultation and Contingency-Based Payment
Most reputable car accident lawyers offer a free consultation to car accident victims. They evaluate the merits of your claim, while you evaluate the attorney to decide whether they are right for you. During the free consultation, ask about the attorney’s payment structure. Most personal injury and car accident lawyers in Texas use a contingency-based payment model. Contingency-based payment allows the attorney and staff to go to work for you at no upfront cost out of your pocket. Instead, they only get paid if and when they’ve recovered compensation for you.
Be sure to ask about the percentage fee before you hire them. Most charge between 30%-40%, depending on their level of experience. Some increase their percentage for court cases if your case goes into litigation.
Although you may balk at the idea of paying up to 40% of your compensation, bear in mind that this incentivizes the best Dallas car accident lawyers to work tirelessly on your case to maximize your compensation, so you are likely to come out ahead of what you’d have recovered without legal representation, even after paying the lawyer’s fee.
What You Should Assess Before Choosing the Right Dallas Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
Besides asking about the attorney’s payment structure and the percentage they charge, it’s essential to assess the following qualifications:
- The prospective lawyer’s education, credentials, and any board certifications
- The attorney’s level of experience with cases similar to yours
- The law firm’s history of favorable results
- If they have ample trial experience with good results
- Their reputation within the legal community, including any accolades, awards, and listings in prestigious publications, such as Superlawyers and/or Rising Stars
- Their recent reviews and testimonials from past clients
- Their availability for questions and updates on your case, as well as their preferred communication method, whether through phone calls, texts, emails, or video conferencing
A confident, trial-ready attorney should prepare every case as though for trial, while always aiming for a low-conflict settlement that maximizes compensation for their client. This not only gives them a position of strength for more effective negotiations with insurance companies that want to avoid court, but also ensures a well-executed strategy if your claim is one of the about 4% of Texas car accident claims that go to trial.
Make Sure That You Have A Good Rapport With Your Dallas Car Accident Lawyer
Finally, it’s essential to have a good working relationship with your car accident lawyer. You should be comfortable enough to speak frankly. You should also feel confident in your attorney’s abilities and their willingness to communicate effectively so you aren’t kept in the dark about the progress of your Dallas car accident case.