Bang! An unexpected car accident turns your day into a frenetic mess. You’re already in a rush to get coffee, but now you have to worry about insurance, injuries and legal jargon. I can tell you that finding an attorney for car accidents is like trying to find a needle in the haystack. Except, someone has set it on fire. What’s the best way to go about finding a motor vehicle accident lawyers near me las vegas?
Forget about any legal jargon, or fees that are outlandish. What’s the goal? Find someone who is a legal expert but speaks like your neighbor Mike. Mike is the neighbor who constantly borrows your mower, but can tell you baseball trivia facts without skipping a note.
Start with your social network. You can get many good recommendations from your friends and family. You’d be amazed at how many family members or friends have had similar experiences. You can bet that Aunt Sally’s neighbor was represented by an attorney worth their weight. The power of word-of-mouth is unsurpassed, particularly in personal matters.
Let’s discuss your first meeting. Dress more formally (leave your Hawaiian shirt behind). Keep in mind that you are not simply hiring anybody; this person is going to hopefully save you some money. As the attorney explains what they can do, make mental notes. You should not only pay attention to the lawyer’s legal skills, but how they respond to pop quizzes. Ask them “What is your spirit animal?” They’re likely too stiff if they hesitate. Nobody needs a walking legal encyclopedia. What you need is a translator who can translate complex legalese to plain English.
Keep your red-flags at the ready! If your attorney starts quoting fees that make it sound like the money is going to Mars, you’ve got something wrong. Yes, it’s true that experience is expensive, but you shouldn’t need to take out a second mortgage. Talk openly about the fee structure. Sherlock Holmes might sweat if they hear your questions. What does your fee include? Do you have contingency work? You shouldn’t rely on assumptions; they can be dangerous allies.
A final nugget of advice: check out the vibe in their office. Are you treated like a member of the family or as a number? Do the walls have certificates or taxidermy framed? What you need is a lawyer who speaks to you rather than at you.
Online reviews are the next tricky part. Salt shaker handy? Good. Reviews are often more dramatic than the drama of a soap opera. Nevertheless, sifting through online opinions can give you some valuable insight. If you read a lot of positive reviews, it might make you think that the lawyer was giving out donuts with each thumbs-up. Find balanced opinions that offer both the positives and negatives.
It’s not just for comic delivery, my friend. A quick consultation with an attorney will prevent closets from becoming a skeleton’s graveyard. Don’t let that pile of paperwork grow to the height of Mount Everest. Your attorney must be proactive. He or she should not just wait to have statues erected for them.
It’s a little like dating while Mercury is retrograde. The dating experience is unpredictable, sometimes harrowing but, when you meet ‘the one’, the alignment is perfect.