The 10 Worst Car Accident Lawyers in the United States
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you’re likely looking for the best car accident lawyer in your area to help you get the compensation you deserve from the at-fault party. To help you make that decision, we’ve compiled this list of the 10 worst car accident lawyers in America so that you can avoid these lawyers when searching for your own representation. Here they are, in no particular order
1) They’re overpriced
If you’ve ever talked to a car accident lawyer, you’ve probably noticed that they seem to have their hourly fee plastered on their business card. So, does that mean we are paying for our attorney’s time or is there something else at play? Well, unfortunately, there is. Most car accident lawyers will try and negotiate with your insurance company before any settlement has been reached, meaning that if they don’t get what they feel you deserve (usually based on their fees), they will settle for less. The result? You end up getting less money—as opposed to hiring someone who works on a contingency basis and doesn't charge you until he wins your case—to pay more out of pocket for medical bills and other expenses.
2) They have no compassion for the victim
The best car accident lawyers will have compassion and empathy for your injuries and what you are going through. They should be able to understand that no matter how often they do it, there’s nothing routine about defending someone who has been injured by a negligent driver. Negligence is something that should never be routine. A compassionate lawyer should treat every case as if it were their own family member or best friend because, after all, it could be them or their loved ones lying in that hospital bed instead of you or your family member or best friend. If a car accident lawyer can’t empathize with their clients and see things from their point of view, then perhaps they aren’t cut out for handling personal injury claims for a living.
3) They advertise on radio stations even though they are not an injury firm
You would think that you could trust a lawyer or law firm that advertises on radio stations. Unfortunately, many of them are not personal injury lawyers; they are just advertising to get clients. If you have a car accident and call one of these lawyers, they may try to refer you to another attorney since they only handle certain types of cases. If you want a good personal injury lawyer for your case, make sure it is an actual accident and injury law firm that handles car accident cases every day.
4) They will cut corners and bend rules to win a case
If you have been involved in an auto accident and feel you have a case against another driver or an insurance company, it is important to understand that car accident lawyers are not all equal. Many attorneys don't fully understand all of their client's rights after an accident. They will take shortcuts and may not pursue your case as thoroughly as they should. In these situations, you will most likely end up with little compensation after months of stress and worry. And if that isn't bad enough, some lawyers out unscrupulous liars are looking to do anything they can to make a quick buck off your misery.
5) They will ask you to lie under oath
You may think that a lawyer has your best interests at heart, but unfortunately, there are unscrupulous lawyers out there who will take advantage of you. Just because an attorney works on contingency doesn’t mean he or she won’t lie to advance their case. In fact, a recent study showed that one out of five personal injury lawyers will ask clients to commit perjury. You should be wary if you ever feel like you’re being asked to lie under oath or if an attorney asks you to review documents without a witness present. That should immediately set off alarm bells! For example, if an accident victim is asked to fill out his medical history before meeting with his lawyer, it might suggest something nefarious is going on behind closed doors.
6) They represent insurance companies as well as victims
Do you feel as though your car accident attorney’s staff is rude and unprofessional? Many people call us after they are told no or talked down to by a staff member at their law office. They often ask us, Is that normal? Should I be expected to get treated like that? What gives them the right to talk to me like that? Most of these people have no idea they can report an attorney or staff member for being unprofessional. The reason you should not tolerate poor service from your car accident lawyer and his staff is that there are laws against it.
7) Their staff is unprofessional and rude
Being a lawyer is hard enough without having to put up with difficult employees. If you talk with any of their former staff members or employees, you'll likely find something negative about them. The best way to tell if someone will treat you like royalty or make you feel uncomfortable is by talking to people who used to work for them or even going as far as talking to their current employees. If they have anything but glowing things to say, find someone else. It will save you a lot of hassle and aggravation down the road.
8) Do they take your calls at night?
Poor communication makes clients uneasy, which is why you should be prompt at returning phone calls and emails. If you let your clients know that you’re accessible (or better yet, give them a deadline for response) they’ll appreciate it. Not only does following up keep your clients informed about their cases, but it shows them that you care about their business. This small gesture can help win over skeptical customers and keep loyal ones from going elsewhere for future business. Be professional and courteous in all of your interactions, including email correspondence and/or voicemail messages. Don't forget to use proper spelling and grammar as well! It's also important to avoid sharing too much personal information such as how old your children are or how long you've been married.
9) Do they respond quickly when contacted?
Clients need a lawyer who will respond to them quickly. If you’re ever involved in a car accident, you want a fast response from your attorney. The faster you get help from an experienced attorney, then the better chance you have of winning your case. Unfortunately, if you hire one of these attorneys, then there’s no way that your experience is going to be good. You may not win your case and it could take months for them to return any communications with potential clients.
10) Do they return emails promptly?
Before you go with a personal injury lawyer, ask to see how long it took for them to respond to your email. The best accident lawyers are timely and organized, so a five-day response time is not out of line. But if you feel you've been waiting for days (or weeks), it's probably not worth it. Make sure that they answer any questions that you have, otherwise find someone else. You shouldn't have to wait around when dealing with an injury case—that's what your car accident lawyer should be doing!