BIGGEST SCREW-UPS WHEN PICKING AN AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYER NEAR ME (AND HOW NOT TO BLUNDER IT)

Alright, so you’ve been in a wreck. Now you’re googling “auto accident lawyer near me” and, let’s be real, the choices look about as fun as reading a phone book. But here’s the thing—one wrong move and you could be stuck with a dud who costs you big time. People mess up this process all the time. No shame, but don’t be one of them. Seriously, check this list before you even think about signing anything.

1️⃣ HIRING THE WRONG KIND OF LAWYER

Listen, your cousin’s roommate’s brother might be a lawyer, but if he usually does real estate transactions, he’s not your guy for car crashes. You want someone who’s eaten, slept, and breathed auto injury claims for years, won a bunch, knows the insurance game, all that. If they mostly shuffle paper for corporations? Swipe left.

2️⃣ SKIPPING THE BACKGROUND CHECK

If you only skim their website and ignore the reviews, that’s basically the legal equivalent of going on a blind date in the dark. Check out those Google and Avvo ratings. See what past clients say. Look for those settled case numbers (bonus points for big wins). Ask your neighbor if they’ve heard of this lawyer. Dig a little.

3️⃣ NOT READING THE FINE PRINT (OR ANY PRINT, REALLY)

People hear “contingency fee” and just nod like they get it. Stop that. Ask—how much do they actually take if you win (usually somewhere between a quarter and almost half)? Are you on the hook for weird little charges or “expenses?” Free consult, or do they start the meter if you just breathe near their office?

4️⃣ HIRING A GHOST (AKA BAD COMMUNICATOR)

If your lawyer never picks up the phone or only replies with one-word emails, yikes. You want someone who answers when you call, keeps you in the loop, and doesn’t just hand off your case to their intern. Straight up ask: “Will you call me? How often are we talking? Are you actually the lawyer on my case?”

5️⃣ LAWYER WITH ZIP FOR TRIAL EXPERIENCE

Here’s the deal—most cases do settle, but what if yours doesn’t? If your lawyer freaks out at the word “trial,” the insurance company is going to lowball you. Find out if they’ve actually gone to court…and won.

6️⃣ FALLING FOR FAKE PROMISES

If a lawyer guarantees you’ll be sipping champagne with a six-figure check just from reading your police report, run. No one can promise results before seeing the facts. Avoid anyone who acts like they’ve never seen a tough case, or insists they “never lose.” That’s either desperation or straight-up lying.

7️⃣ NOT GETTING IT ALL IN WRITING

Handshake deals are for little league, not lawsuits. Before you sign, make sure you know exactly what comes out of your settlement (their take, court fees, surprise “file copying charges,” whatever). You gotta know your own responsibilities, too. Don’t just nod along—get it on paper.

BOTTOM LINE

Mess up any of the above, and you’re making things harder for yourself for no reason. Slow down. Do your homework, talk to more than one lawyer, and don’t get dazzled by shiny websites or cheap promises. Good lawyers exist—they’ll fight for you, keep you informed, and wring every cent they can out of the situation. Settle for less, and you’ll regret it every time you look at that busted-up bumper.