You’re driving down the street on your scooter when a car turns out of nowhere and runs you off the road. You may be able to pursue a lawsuit if your scooter crash has resulted in personal injury, a damaged vehicle, or emotional trauma.
However, you don’t want to hire the first lawyer you come across after a quick Google search. A scooter accident attorney needs to have experience dealing with your specific type of case. Ideally, they’ll also have a strong track record.
Here are seven tips to follow when looking for an electric scooter accident law firm.
1. Ask Your Friends and Family
The first thing you should do when hiring a lawyer is to ask your friends and family for their advice. There’s a good chance that one of them has dealt with a personal injury lawsuit in the past. They may be able to recommend someone they’ve already worked with and had good results.
On the flip side, your personal network may be able to steer you away from problematic attorneys. It’s possible they had a bad experience and can give you all the details.
However, make sure they refer you to a relevant lawyer. Hiring an attorney that has never worked with a scooter accident in the past may cause issues later on.
2. Look for an Experienced Scooter Accident Lawyer
You should always hire a personal injury lawyer before talking to an insurance company. These companies will often try to incriminate you, rush you to accept a poor settlement, or get you to drop the case altogether.
However, don’t feel like you need to rush into things. Take the time to look for an experienced e-scooter accident law firm, first.
Ask a prospective attorney how many years of experience they have in the field. If their law office covers multiple different areas, see if you can get an attorney who specializes in personal injury or car accidents.
Another thing to look for is any awards or recognition they may have received in the past. If they’ve been operating for a while without any kind of recognition or positive reputation, that could be a red flag.
3. Mind the Fees
Another thing to ask a prospective attorney is how they handle fees and billing. Some lawyers will charge you by the hour based on factors such as your area and the type of case.
The good thing is that most personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee. This type of payment model makes it so that the attorney gets paid a percentage of your settlement in a legal case. If they lose the case, then they get no money.
4. Speak with Multiple Attorneys
Ideally, you’ll use whatever time you have to talk to multiple attorneys before making a decision. Even if the first person you talk to really clicks with your personality, you should also be on the lookout for the most experienced and accomplished option within your budget. It’s all about finding a good balance.
A lawyer who is quick to communicate with you might only do so because they have a lack of clients. Larger firms with more wins under their belt may struggle to get back to you on a timely basis.
If possible, utilize free consultations so you can connect with different law offices and find the best fit for your situation.
5. Assess Their Communication Skills
Communication is key when dealing with a lawsuit of any kind. You may stumble upon something that you can submit as evidence or a flaw in your case. More importantly, you want to stay up to date with anything happening outside of your purview.
A law firm with good communication skills knows to communicate clearly and often. They should set expectations from the start and let you know what will happen every step of the way.
Ideally, you should be able to call and speak to someone rather than leave a voicemail. However, a quick email or text correspondence is also acceptable.
6. Check Reviews
If your family and friends have not had much experience with personal injury or auto-related lawsuits, then you can always rely on online reviews. People love to praise or complain about services they’ve spent money on.
One tip to keep in mind when looking at online reviews is to ignore any five or one-star reviews. Instead, focus on the numbers between them. These reviews tend to be more honest and can point out flaws that may matter more to you than the positives.
There are many review websites to choose from if you want to look at a lawyer’s background. They also allow you to take a quick look at multiple attorneys if you want to narrow down your options.
7. Consider Their Size
Take into account the size of a law firm before you hire them.
Larger firms will have a much larger network with more staff to assist them in their cases. However, they may also be much busier than you’re comfortable with. They could be slow to communicate and update you on any changes.
Meanwhile, smaller firms could have a little less experience but more time to devote to your case and you. They will offer more one-on-one attention and can develop a close client-lawyer relationship.
There are always exceptions, but you should keep this in mind as you narrow down your options.
Hire an E-Scooter Accident Attorney Today
Regardless of whether you were the victim or the one who caused the accident, an e-scooter accident attorney can help you with your case. However, you should always be sure to do the research and take the time to make the best choice.
The attorneys at Titan Law Firm will go the extra mile to help you win your scooter accident lawsuit. Located in Beverly Hills, we offer our services in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other surrounding areas in Southern California. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have or call 888.848.2656 to speak with a lawyer today.