THE BIG BLUNDERS PEOPLE MAKE WHEN PICKING A CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER (AND HOW TO DODGE ‘EM)

So, you’re hunting for a car accident lawyer near you. Man, it’s easy to screw this up. Seriously, there’s a minefield of rookie mistakes out there—some of ‘em can straight-up kill your chances of getting the money you deserve. So, here’s my two cents: don’t go in blind. Read this, and thank yourself later.

1️⃣ JUST GRABBING ANY OLD LAWYER

(No, Karen, your cousin’s divorce attorney isn’t gonna cut it)
Lawyers are like doctors—they’ve all got specialties. Would you call a podiatrist if your appendix exploded? Right. Same thing here. Find someone who actually knows car accident cases, not your neighbor’s buddy who mostly handles, like, dog custody battles.

  • Years of ACTUAL accident case experience? Yes, please.
  • Show me those juicy wins—settlements, trials, whatever.
  • Knows their way around insurance B.S. and traffic laws like a GPS? Even better.

2️⃣ SKIPPING THE BACKGROUND CHECK

Dude, people check Yelp reviews for $6 tacos, but not for someone who could decide their financial future? Wild. Look up:

  • Google, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell—hell, stalk ‘em everywhere.
  • Actual people’s stories, not just what’s on their shiny website.
  • Real results, big and small. If all you see is “we care,” run.
3️⃣ NOT EVEN GLANCING AT THE FEE DETAILS

Look, most of these folks don’t get paid unless you win (that’s contingency fee 101), but you better know the fine print.

  • What cut are they taking from your settlement? Ballpark is 25-40%.
  • Extra fees if things go nuclear and you end up in court?
  • Free consults, or are you getting nickel-and-dimed for breathing?

4️⃣ ACTING LIKE COMMUNICATION DOESN’T MATTER

If a lawyer ghosts you or pawn you off on their intern, that’s a red flag. Before you sign your life away, ask:

  • Do they actually answer calls/emails, or leave you on read?
  • Are you getting regular updates, or are you Sherlock Holmes trying to find answers?
  • Is your lawyer actually handling your case, or just slapping it on an associate’s desk?

5️⃣ FORGETTING TO ASK IF THEY’VE ACTUALLY SEEN A COURTROOM

Settlements are nice and all, but sometimes you gotta throw down in court. You need someone who won’t melt under those bright courtroom lights.

  • How many times have they actually gone to trial?
  • Any trophies? (Aka, verdicts won.)
  • Do they know when to push for a settlement vs say, “Let’s go to court”?

6️⃣ BELIEVING THE UNICORN PROMISES

No lawyer with a conscience guarantees you’ll get rich quick. If someone’s promising the moon before even seeing your case? Red. Flag.

  • Watch out for the “I win every time!” crowd. Nobody does.
  • If they never talk about risks or what could go wrong—sketchy.
  • Money-back guarantees? Gimme a break.
7️⃣ NOT GETTING EVERY DAMN THING IN WRITING

Verbal deals are about as solid as gas station sushi. Lock in ALL the details, on paper.

  • How and when are fees coming out of your cash?
  • Extra charges: experts, court filings, those little “miscellaneous” fees?
  • What do they expect from you—showing up, documents, not ghosting them?

BOTTOM LINE

Don’t torpedo your case by rushing to hire a random lawyer. Take your time, do the homework, ask the awkward questions. Compare a few options until one actually feels right—trust your gut, not just a fancy office or billboard. The right car accident lawyer? Total game-changer for your claim. Seriously—don’t settle for less.