Our Personal Injury Lawyers Discuss Finding Skilled Legal Counsel for Your Flagstaff Car Accident Claim
When you’re hurt in a car accident and want to file a personal injury claim, you may wonder if it’s worth hiring an attorney to represent you. It’s never a good idea to work directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and try to settle your car accident claim on your own. Because insurance companies want to pay out as little to you as possible, you’re likely to be taken advantage of and treated unfairly. Here, our experienced Flagstaff personal injury lawyers at Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC explain the qualities you should look for in an attorney and why you can trust our legal team to listen to your concerns and fight for your right to a fair settlement. 
How to Select a Flagstaff Personal Injury Lawyer: Qualities and Qualifications
If you decide to hire an attorney for your personal injury claim, you want excellent representation, but finding the right legal counsel can be challenging. You want to trust the lawyer you choose and believe that they are looking out for your best interests. Here are the qualifications that our legal team recommends you look for:
- Experience. You need a lawyer who has extensive experience settling and litigating car accident cases. At Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC, we have decades of experience successfully representing clients who were victims of auto crashes.
- Knowledge of the law. The personal injury lawyer you retain should have a deep understanding of the laws that apply to your car accident claim and the court procedures you’ll need to follow if you have to file a lawsuit and litigate your claim.
- Communication skills. You should look for an attorney who can explain your case in language you can understand, who will listen to your concerns, and will answer your questions. Our personal injury lawyers are committed to promptly returning your calls and responding to your emails. We’ll also regularly keep you updated on the status of your claim.
- Dedication. A lawyer you can trust will understand your goals and be dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome in your case, even if this means taking your case to a jury trial. Read our case results to learn how we have successfully helped our clients resolve their car accident claims.
- Network of resources. You should also look for a personal injury attorney who has a network of resources to help them win your case, such as accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, and other qualified expert witnesses.
How to Locate and Research Possible Flagstaff Personal Injury Lawyers
Unless you’ve had an attorney who represented you in another car accident case, you should create a list of two to three top choices before hiring someone. Here are ways you can obtain possible candidates:
- Referral by an attorney. If you’ve hired a lawyer for another legal matter, such as a criminal case, will, or real estate transaction, ask them if they know a lawyer they would recommend who handles car accident claims.
- Family and friends. You can also see if co-workers, family, or friends have used a personal injury lawyer who successfully settled their auto crash case.
- Arizona State Bar. The State Bar of Arizona or a county bar association should be able to refer you to a personal injury lawyer who handles these claims.
- Internet. You can also search for attorneys who represent Flagstaff car accident victims on the internet.
You should research your top choices carefully. You can check with the Arizona State Bar to see if the attorneys you are considering have any complaints against them or were subject to disciplinary actions. You should also read the lawyer’s bio and determine whether they have any certifications or awards.
Most experienced personal injury lawyers will have a website. Search it for their bios, helpful articles, case results, testimonials, and other useful information.
How to Prepare for Your Initial Consultation
You should schedule a free initial consultation once you narrow your list to two to three attorneys. You should prepare for the meeting by writing out a list of questions to ask them, such as the following:
- Their experience. You should ask them questions about how many car accident claims they’ve handled and their track record of success in resolving them.
- Your case. Ask the attorney questions about their evaluation of your claim against the other driver, how long it could take to settle your case, and the approximate value of your claim.
- Their fees. You must also know how much the lawyer will charge you for their services. At Griffen & Stevens, PLLC, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you only owe us attorney fees if we settle your claim.