How to Find the Best Uninsured Driver Lawyer for Your Case
If you are involved in a road traffic accident and you are not at fault, you are entitled to lodge a claim for personal injuries and material damages caused to your vehicle.
Your insurance company investigates the case, negotiates with the third party’s insurer, and resolves the case. If the at-fault party has insurance and is represented by your insurance company, you do not need a lawyer to help you resolve the case.
But if the at-fault party does not have insurance, there is no adjuster to talk to, and there is no one to pay your costs. This is when you need an uninsured driver’s lawyer.
What is an Uninsured Driver?
An uninsured driver is one who does not have any insurance at all, whether it is the minimum legally required by the state or not.
Motor vehicle registration offices in the cities keep proper records of drivers who bought or failed to buy insurance by asking them to bring evidence of insurance to enable them to register their vehicles.
An uninsured driver can be someone who drives a vehicle without insurance or someone who is a passenger in a vehicle taken control of by someone who is uninsured.
Qualities to Look for in an Uninsured Driver Lawyer
Choosing an uninsured driver lawyer can be easy, but choosing an uninsured driver lawyer who will help you maximize your benefits can be challenging. Your rights are your property.
You have the right to choose the professional you think is the best to protect them.
Here are some criteria you should consider when looking for an uninsured driver lawyer to help you make the best possible decisions.
1. Experience and expertise
The best lawyer for an uninsured driver case isn’t necessarily the “top” lawyer. It’s the one who knows how to handle these cases that are similar to yours and understands the unique issues they involve.
The legal issues in uninsured driver cases are often complex, and attorneys unfamiliar with the particular aspects of these cases may not be as well-equipped to pursue claims on behalf of uninsured clients as they could be.
That’s why you need a lawyer who has experience specifically in the field of uninsured motorist law.
2. Track Record of Success
Once you have come up with a list of potential lawyers to help you with your uninsured driver case, one of the most important things that you will want to do is compare the lawyers’ track records of success.
You can ask the lawyers to provide you with a list of past cases they have handled and information on whether and to what capacity they won those cases and recovered money from the at-fault parties.
A good lawyer is not afraid to show you what they have done in order to secure a win for their clients. It is also important to learn what types of cases these lawyers have tried and won.
Every case is a bit different in its own unique way, but finding lawyers who have successfully handled cases related to your own in court or through settlements is a great way to choose someone to handle your case well.
Another thing you will want to consider is the attorney’s focus. Make sure the lawyer you choose specializes in personal injury law, especially if your insurance company won’t pay or if the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage to cover your damages.
A good personal injury lawyer will focus exclusively on personal injury cases.
3. Communication and accessibility
Face-to-face communication is sometimes necessary in legal matters. Lawyers who are difficult to reach can increase client dissatisfaction. Therefore, easy accessibility should be a major factor when choosing an attorney.
Most attorneys use telephone communication and periodic mailings, but some have other methods for clients to keep updated. It is important for clients to find an attorney whose communication style matches their needs.
Furthermore, it is very helpful for clients to know the steps that have been taken. If a lawyer does not respond, try calling the staff with simple questions to see if they can give the assistant the information needed. If the office staff takes too long to answer questions, they may be giving clues to the character of the lawyer.
A second factor the customer needs to consider is the attorney’s communication style. The customer has likely been attorney-connected to their insurance because of their accident and possibly their physician.
These two experts have already achieved a substantial amount of trust from both the customer and the client.
The customer should consider the amount of trust they have toward their primary care physician and not retain an attorney who, in contrast to their doctor, is less trustworthy.
4. Strong negotiation skills
Strong negotiation skills are crucial in the field of personal injury law. You will come across many lawyers who can talk the talk, whether that is in providing supportive, understanding, and compassionate advice or in speaking confidently and in control terms to help you feel more relaxed about your claim.
But when it comes to the proverbial thrashing it out with someone over the value of your claim, not everyone really has what it takes.
You need an uninsured driver lawyer with experience who is prepared to stand up to the other side and demands the most that can be achieved for your accident, injuries, and expenses.
If an insurer or uninsured driver knows that a lawyer does not have the appropriate experience in backing up their argument with threats of court proceedings, quotes or references from past cases, or other ways of demonstrating their point, then at the meeting point, they are going to argue all day long and push harder still because they know that as they stand, the threat is just that, a threat, rather than a promise.
Uninsured Driver Lawyer: Researching and shortlisting potential lawyers
Since you know the qualities of an uninsured motorist lawyer, you might be wondering how you can start your search. We will explain the process of researching and shortlisting potential lawyers:
1. Online Research and Reviews
Begin your search for a good uninsured driver lawyer by searching for lawyers online. Various websites, such as Avvo, list practicing attorneys in your area. These websites list contact information for each lawyer, so you should select those within close range.
Review the lawyer profiles to obtain details concerning the attorney’s practice areas and see if uninsured motorists’ claims are among those listed. Also, see if the attorney offers free evaluations or case consultations.
The internet is famous for its reviews, where customers and clients who have survived the services of businesses, including legal firms, discuss their experiences.
2. Referrals and Recommendations
Ask friends or family members who have had similar cases for referrals or recommendations. Those who have experience with auto accidents, especially uninsured motorist cases, may help you find a good uninsured driver lawyer.
A referral from a friend should not be enough to make you select a particular lawyer, but it may be enough to make you consider a lawyer to handle your case.
You should also consider if the friend referring you to the lawyer knows exactly what the lawyer has done and why the friend liked the particular lawyer. Consider checking the lawyer out more before you hire them.
If you consider the referral trusted, make sure to mention your referral source when you contact the attorney.
Uninsured Driver Lawyer: Consultation and Hiring Process
Once you have made a list of lawyers, it is time to meet with them to ask questions.
1. Initial Consultation
Once you have compiled the list of potential uninsured driver lawyers you might want to use, you need to do your initial consultations.
This should be a time for you to ask the lawyer any questions you might have, as well as let the lawyer ask you questions to determine whether the lawyer wants to take your case.
During this initial consultation, you will go over the facts of your case and the potential claims you want to bring to repair or recover damages. You will also go over the lawyer’s fee structure and/or retainer requirements, as well as potential costs and expenses.
This is the time to ask the lawyer about their litigation experience and what they specifically have done to fight against the insurance companies on behalf of their clients to navigate his or her way through the legal process to ensure you obtain full recovery for your damages.
2. Questions to Ask During the Consultation
You should bring all of the information you have gathered, including documentary evidence of your healthcare costs and expenses, to show to the lawyer.
Ask all the questions you are comfortable asking. A good lawyer will listen to all your questions and answer them. Questions to ask an insured driver during the consultation include the following:
- How many years of experience do you have in handling car insurance claims?
- Have you previously dealt with cases similar to mine?
- What is your strategy for handling my insurance claim?
- How often do you communicate with your clients during a case?
- What are the potential challenges you foresee in my case?
- What percentage of your cases go to trial?
- How do you handle disputes with insurance companies?
- Can you provide references from past clients with similar cases?
- What are your fees, and do you work on a contingency basis?
- How long do you estimate my case will take to resolve?
3. Fee Structure and Payment Plans
Before you hire a lawyer for your case, it is a good idea to get a written fee agreement that outlines how they are to be compensated. This should disclose how much you are expected to pay and when the payment is due.
The agreement should also include any other additional costs and expenses that you may incur. If you are unable to cover these expenses upfront, you may be able to work out a contingency or pro bono agreement with your preferred attorney. Be sure to review these terms before signing.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Uninsured Driver Lawyer for Your Case
You can be very confused as to why you would need a lawyer if you have been injured in a car crash with an uninsured driver.
A person involved in any kind of crash is, of course, free to recover reasonable damages from anyone, including the uninsured driver who caused the incident.
A qualified uninsured driver lawyer can help you understand any financial compensation that you can claim by handling your uninsured driver case.
Hiring a lawyer would allow you to concentrate on coping with your physical health throughout your personal trauma and recovery process.
