Personal Injury

How to Find an SUV Accident Attorney

SUVs are larger and heavier than passenger cars, which means that they can cause more damage when involved in accidents. Among passenger vehicles involved in car accidents in 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that cars had a fatality rate per occupant of 12.53 per 100,000. By comparison, SUVs involved in accidents had an occupant fatality rate of 7.04 per 100,000. If you suffered injuries in an SUV accident, you might be considering pursuing a legal claim against the SUV driver. While injured individuals are not required to retain attorneys to represent them in SUV accident claims, hiring an SUV accident attorney can improve your chances of recovering full compensation for your losses. Scroll down to learn how to find the right attorney to represent you in your SUV accident case.

Seek Referrals and Research Online

Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and other types of professionals you know. If a friend or family member was injured in a motor vehicle collision, ask them if they would recommend the lawyer who represented them. You can also ask your doctor or a different type of attorney for referrals to a good SUV accident attorney. For example, if you recently got divorced, you might ask your divorce lawyer for recommendations of motor vehicle accident lawyers they know and respect in your community.

You can also research attorneys in your area online. Look for an attorney who focuses on motor vehicle accidents. Once you have identified a few, look at their websites to see whether they have case results listed and to check how long they have practiced law.

Check the Attorney’s Accessibility and Availability

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, you’ll want to make sure the lawyer you are considering is available and accessible. If an attorney is overwhelmed with cases, they might not have enough time to devote to representing you. Ask the attorney’s office whether they are accepting new cases and how many cases the lawyer is currently handling. Ask who you will contact when you have questions and how you will be kept updated about your case. Make sure you choose a lawyer who will answer your questions and has a specific method for ensuring promptness in responding to your calls and emails.

Schedule a Consultation

An SUV accident attorney will likely offer free consultations. This is a meeting at which you can ask the attorney questions, and the lawyer can ask you about your case to get a better idea of the legal issues that might be involved. Use your consultation wisely. Bring a list of questions to ask the lawyer, and evaluate how they communicate with you.

A good lawyer should listen to you and answer your questions without talking over your head. They should explain legal terms to make them understandable and be open and honest. A good attorney should have excellent communication skills to guide you throughout the legal process and negotiate with the insurance company.

Ask About Fees and Billing

Before you retain an SUV accident attorney, you need to make sure you understand their fees and how they bill. Most motor vehicle accident attorneys work for contingent fees. This means they will not get paid their fees unless they recover compensation for you through a settlement or a trial. However, some lawyers bill for expenses during the pendency of the case, including expert witness fees and filing fees. Make sure you know whether your attorney bills for costs during your case or waits to get them until your settlement or verdict is awarded.

Ask the Lawyer About the Strengths and Weaknesses of Your Case

A good lawyer should be able to evaluate your case and readily identify its strengths and weaknesses. Ask a lawyer what these are and how they will go about addressing the weaknesses. Ensure the attorney has a strategy and can explain it to you in understandable language. They should also be open to your feedback. On the other hand, be cautious of a lawyer who makes guarantees or claims your case only has strengths. Lawyers can’t ethically promise a specific outcome, and a good lawyer will be able to identify the weaknesses in your case. This is important because an insurance company will identify the weaker areas, and it’s best if you and your lawyer are prepared.

Speak to an Experienced Lawyer

To learn about your rights and options, you should reach out to the experienced attorneys at Ellis & Associates. Our lawyers have extensive experience handling all types of motor vehicle collision claims, including those involving SUVs. Call us for a free case evaluation today at 800-MR-ELLIS or send us a message online.

Ellis & Associates

Recent Posts

Motorcycle Safety Tips

Motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy the sense of freedom they derive from riding on the open roads…

7 days ago

What to Do After a Car Accident in Massachusetts

Knowing what to do after a car crash can be difficult. You might be confused,…

4 weeks ago

What Are the Chances of Getting in a Car Crash?

As a driver, you risk an accident each time you get behind the wheel of…

1 month ago

How to Obtain Traffic Camera Video of a Car Accident

Following a car accident, you might have noticed nearby traffic cameras at the scene that…

2 months ago

Who Is at Fault in a Self-Driving Car Accident?

Over the past decade, autonomous vehicle technology has been increasingly studied and implemented. Google, Tesla,…

2 months ago

How Long Does it Take Police to Investigate a Car Accident?

If you're involved in a motor vehicle collision that wasn't your fault, you might have…

3 months ago