Choosing an attorney for any issue can feel like a daunting task. After all, large sums of money are usually hanging in the balance of your decision. So before you get overwhelmed and just start calling the law offices with the highest reviews on Google, here’s a few things for you to consider:
1. What’s Their Specialty?
Much like different doctors have different specialties, different attorneys have different specialties. You’d no sooner ask a cardiologist to perform brain surgery, and you shouldn’t ask a attorney specializing in property law to represent you for a theft charge. Therefore, when hiring a hit and run attorney, it’s important to do your research on the different attorneys you’re considering and check what exactly they specialize in.
It might help if you can first consult a legal clinic or a similar service with the specifics of your case to see exactly what kind of attorney you might need. For example, if you were the driver involved in the hit and run, you’ll want a attorney who specializes in criminal law. However, if you were the victim of a hit and run then you’re going to want someone who specializes in personal injury law.
Furthermore, who is the other party? Is it the family of the other person involved in the hit and run? Is it the insurance company? Was there property damage? These are all factors that are incredibly important in deciding which attorney should best represent you.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to drop the attorney’s office an email or arrange for a call or conference to check whether that attorney will be a good fit for your legal needs. Compile a document with as many details of the incident as possible so that the hit and run attorney knows how they can best help you. Even if it’s embarrassing or you think it’s incriminating, hiding details from your attorney will do you no favors so it’s best to be as honest as possible right off the bat.
2. Are They From The Area?
Hit and run laws have a tendency to differ slightly from state to state and that can be important as to whether a judge will acquit or charge you depending on the individual situation. Therefore, whenever possible, it’s best to get a attorney whose practice is within the same state as the incident since they are more likely to know the details and the application of the state-specific laws.
Furthermore, the location of your hit and run attorney is also important depending on the estimated duration of your case. Personal injury lawsuits can take anywhere from several weeks to several years to be settled depending on a variety of factors. For more complex cases, there’s a good chance that you will have to meet with your attorney relatively often so that they can update you on the case proceedings and for paperwork. Therefore, it is important to choose a attorney who is accessible to you so that you can build up a trusting relationship and so that forms and updates can be received in a timely manner.
However, if you live in a more rural area and the attorney that best suits your needs is simply not within a reasonable travelling distance, then it is important to try and find alternative means of regular communication with your hit and run attorney. Fortunately, thanks to advancements in technology and the power of the internet, it is possible to arrange for a variety of methods for your attorney to get in touch with you.
3. Go For Experience And Reputation
Needless to say, most (if not all) of us would rather have attorneys with a good amount of experience and a good reputation representing us. This is important as attorneys who are more experienced are more likely to have more practical knowledge and experience in court and therefore can better argue your case. However, what if, for whatever reason, you don’t have access to the services of an experienced attorney?
First of all, don’t panic. Just because the law firms available to you may not be the most well-established, that doesn’t mean that they’re incompetent. While being around for longer carries a certain amount of prestige, that doesn’t mean that smaller and newer law firms have nothing to offer.
Smaller law firms are often more specialized and you can build a more personal relationship with your attorney since they usually don’t have such a heavy caseload compared to attorneys in larger firms. The most important factors to take into account are how knowledgeable and the reputation of the attorney who is representing you. Ultimately, you should always look into any reviews given by ex-clients to determine if the firm (and the attorney) is a good fit for your needs. Furthermore, a younger attorney is likely to be more up-to-date of any changes to the law and provided that they did decently in law school, it’s fair to say that you are likely to be in good hands.
Another avenue for finding a trustworthy attorney is through personal connections. While it may be embarrassing to reach out for help, asking your family and friends if they happen to know any hit and run attorneys who can take your case might be useful as someone you personally know has had dealings with the attorney and is already familiar with them.
Even if your friend’s attorney does not personally specialize in your desired area of law, they may know someone who does and will be able to give you a better idea of whether or not you’d be able to get along with that attorney. Additionally, if your friend feels like their attorney is good enough to warrant a personal recommendation, then that is also a testament as to the quality of their services.
That being said, just because your friends or family recommend their attorney who may have experience in your desired specialty, that does not mean that that attorney will automatically be a good fit for you. It’s still important for you to meet them (preferably in person) and do your own research in order to determine whether or not they will be the best person to represent you.
4. Trust Is Paramount
While it may feel a tad arbitrary, considering that your hit and run attorney will have to work fairly closely with you during a time when you are likely feeling especially stressed and vulnerable, it’s important to decide whether or not the personality, work ethic and the morals of the attorney you’re hiring are able to get along with yours. Furthermore, trust is the basis for good and open communication between your attorney and yourself. As you will likely have to disclose a number of personal details to your attorney, it’s best to make sure that you are able to find them trustworthy and that you are comfortable with them.
It’s important to have a certain level of respect and trust between yourself and your attorney. While it’s not necessary to make them your best friend and save them a spot at the thanksgiving table, it is necessary to be willing to trust your attorney enough to answer any questions they may have for you truthfully. Especially if the case you’re involved in is one that is complex and may take a long time to resolve, it’s always more pleasant for both yourself and the attorney if you can get along and if you can trust their decisions.
That being said, your attorney should also be respectful of your own needs and decisions and should not make you feel as if you are being belittled or disrespected. Your hit and run attorney should be able to carry themselves with a certain amount of professionalism and respectfulness regardless of what type of firm they may be from or the nature of the accident. Most importantly, they have to at least seem willing to represent your case in good faith and you should be able to feel like they will do their best to fight for the best possible outcome for your situation.
Conclusion
Choosing an attorney to help you out of a traumatic or sticky (and sometimes both) situation is not necessarily an easy task. There’s many factors that you have to take into account and not every attorney will be willing to take your case. However, in order to give yourself the best possible chance, it’s important to be willing to do the work to find a hit and run attorney who will be a good match for your legal needs.