Enlisting a lawyer’s help after a car crash can significantly improve your chances of recovering fair compensation. However, this outcome depends on choosing an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer to assist you.
A skilled attorney can help advance your claim smoothly, while an inexperienced one’s actions could delay or derail your claim.
Compare attorneys and consider all relevant information before deciding to ensure you hire someone prepared for your case.
Specifically, you should focus on the following points:
1. Experience
When evaluating an attorney’s experience, be sure to ask them two key questions:
- How long have you been practicing law overall?
- How many years of experience do you have specifically representing car accident injury victims?
Beyond years in practice, look for recent, verifiable results, familiarity with San Diego Superior Court procedures and whether the lawyer understands how California’s pure comparative fault standard affects car accident cases. All this information is indicative of proven experience.
2. Fees And Expenses
Most San Diego car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they’re paid a percentage of your recovery and no fee is owed if there’s no win.
In California, the agreement must be in writing. It should specify the percentage, the costs involved (including filing fees, records and experts), whether the firm advances them and whether the payment is deducted from the gross settlement or the net amount after costs.
Request a simple recent example of another case that the lawyer has worked on, showing fees, costs and medical lien deductions. Also, confirm that any referral or fee-sharing requires your written consent under California law and won’t increase the total percentage.
3. Honesty And Integrity
A good lawyer knows that every client’s situation is different — just because you and another person sustained similar injuries doesn’t mean you’ll have the same outcome. The attorney should give you a thoughtful assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your car accident claim. In doing so, they will enable you to make an informed choice.
Look for a balanced case assessment (including liability, damages and defenses) and a plan for the next 60–90 days, rather than promises of outcomes. Instead, choose one who thoughtfully evaluates your case and gives you straightforward advice.
4. Skills And Resources
Your case deserves a lawyer with time, backup and the right tools — not just good intentions.
Questions you should ask include:
- Who’s on my case day to day (e.g., the lead attorney, associate, or paralegal) and who handles what?
- How many cases are you currently working on and what’s the typical callback/email turnaround?
- Do you have a relationship with investigators and experts? Can you give me some examples of the roles they have played in other cases?
- If my lawyer is in court representing someone else, who will step in to handle my case and how will deadlines and updates be managed?
- Does the firm utilize modern communication and case management tools, such as client portals, secure document sharing and regular updates via text or email?
Choose a firm that has a clear plan, names its team and experts and demonstrates it has the staff, tools and budget to follow through.
5. Communication
The way your attorney communicates with you can make a significant difference in your assessment of their services. Some lawyers communicate frequently with their clients, while others may only reach out if there’s a major development in a case.
You and your potential attorney should discuss your communication preferences so that you both know what to expect from each other. It will be up to you to decide whether you’re comfortable with their communication style.
About The Author
Michael Pines is an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer with 19+ years of experience helping injury victims in the San Diego area. For more information, visit: https://seriousaccidents.com/
