You were injured in an unfortunate car accident in Albuquerque, and you were not at fault. New Mexico is a fault state, so the party responsible for causing the accident will pay compensation to the victim(s). However, winning your car accident lawsuit may not be that simple. Hiring an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer is critical for your case, and in this post, we are sharing more on what to expect when meeting an attorney.
Do you really need an injury lawyer?
The answer depends on many factors, including the losses you have suffered, your injuries, and other details of the case. If you believe that this was just a minor bump and you can manage with whatever the insurance company pays, you don’t need a lawyer. However, New Mexico is a pure comparative negligence state. If you had a share in fault, your eventual settlement will be lower. Consider consulting an attorney, if-
- You were partly responsible for the accident
- There was a commercial vehicle involved
- You suffered serious injuries
- Your injuries are debilitating and can impact your life ahead
- You have suffered serious financial losses
- You believe that the other party can shift the blame on you.
Meeting an attorney in Albuquerque
The first meeting with a car accident attorney is the most important. Your injury lawyer will have a bunch of questions for you, and if they agree to take the case, they will give an overview of your options. Talking to a lawyer is helpful, because you can get a fair idea of your circumstances, and what to expect from the case. You can, in turn, ask a few questions like –
- How long have you been working and practicing as an injury lawyer?
- How frequently do you deal with car accident cases?
- Will you work on the case personally? Or someone will be assigned?
- What is your experience with similar car accident lawsuits?
- Do you work on a contingency fee?
In most cases, injury lawyers don’t ask for an upfront fee. You only pay the lawyer, if and when they win. This is the contingency fee, where the lawyer will take a fixed percentage of the final settlement, varying between 25% and 40%. Ensure that you have direct contact and access to your lawyer, and do ask if they can share a few references. Known injury lawyers will never shy away from talking about top cases and settlements, and you can also check Google for reviews.