If you are not a personal injury lawyer and a client comes to you asking for your representation on a car accident claim, you might be tempted to take their case. However, getting into the case, you might find that you are simply not prepared or that you do not have the right kind of experience. Similarly, if you practice in a different state or just do not have space in your caseload, referring out your case to another law firm might be the best way to help the client.
Our attorneys devote a major portion of our practice to car accident cases and are always willing to take on cases as referrals. We can help whether you work in a different practice area or a different state or you cannot take on the case for whatever reason.
For a free evaluation of the case, call our attorneys for car accident referrals from Howe Law today by dialing (844) 876-4357.
When to Refer Your Car Accident Case to Our Attorneys
It would be improper to say that it is never too late to refer a case to another lawyer. Generally, it would be unethical to surprise your client close to trial or to abandon them after already doing considerable work on their case. As such, it is important to identify cases that you should refer to another firm early on.
Our attorneys for car accident referrals encourage you to consider three factors in determining whether you should keep a case or refer it to another firm:
Are You Properly Credentialed?
As a member of your state’s bar, you know you are able to practice law in that state. If you are trying to help someone with a case from Gadsden or somewhere else in Alabama, you will also need to be barred in Alabama to take on that case. Alternatively, you can try to work with local counsel and appear on a pro hac vice basis, but it might not be worth the travel and additional work if you are located somewhat far away.
In Alabama, you can also be admitted on motion (called “admission without examination”) through reciprocity. If you are determined to take an out-of-state case in Alabama, this might be your best chance at getting the proper credentials to handle the case.
If you cannot get the proper credentials, then you should consider referring your case to our attorneys.
Do You Have the Right Experience?
Our attorneys devote the vast majority of our practice to personal injury law – with a specific emphasis on car accident claims. Because of this, we are incredibly comfortable with these kinds of cases and have seen many of the twists and turns that can arise in car accident injury claims. Additionally, this means we are practiced in working against insurance companies in these claims.
If you work in family law, business law, or criminal law and are contacted by a preexisting client for help with a car accident claim, it might not be the kind of case you or your firm typically handles. If you have any doubts that you can handle the case or if you think that your experience might not be quite right, the best advocacy you can provide your client might be a different attorney’s advocacy. Feel free to call our attorneys for a case evaluation to understand whether our experience might be better for your client’s case.
Do You Have the Time?
Especially if you are a solo practitioner, you are growing your practice, or your firm is understaffed, your firm might not have the resources and capacity to take a car accident case right now. These cases can take many months before a settlement is reached and even longer if they go to trial. During that time, it can be difficult to fund the project, especially if you are taking the case on a contingency fee basis.
All in all, if your firm is not able to devote the proper time and attention to a case, it is likely in the client’s best interests to refer the case to a firm that does have the time to handle it. There is no shame in doing this; it is simply doing what is best for the client.
Our Approach to Car Accident Claims in Gadsden, AL
Our attorneys seek to put the client first and fight to maximize their compensation in car accident cases. There are many areas of damages that injured car accident victims often need help with, from medical bills to lost wages at work to severe pain and suffering. Insurance companies are often all too willing to issue nuisance settlements to end a case quickly, and this kind of recovery might be sufficient for many law firms who are simply looking to clear cases. However, our lawyers will work with the client and analyze their case in full to determine what damages are appropriate for their claim. If that means negotiating for months or going to trial to get our clients the damages they deserve, we will do so.
How Contributory Negligence Affects Car Accident Cases in Gadsden, AL
If you practice in another state, you might not be familiar with handling car accident cases under a contributory negligence rule. In Alabama, a plaintiff who shares even 1% fault for their crash could be blocked from getting damages from the defendant entirely. This means that controlling the narrative and fighting victim blaming will be an unfortunately large part of any car accident case in Alabama, and our attorneys are prepared to put our extensive experience in this area to use in your client’s case.
Call Our Attorneys for Car Accident Referrals in Gadsden, AL Today
If you think have a case to refer out to another firm, call Howe Law’s attorneys for Birmingham car accident referrals today at (844) 876-4357.
