I’ve been in an accident. When should I get an attorney?

Video Transcription

Interviewer: I’ve been in an accident, when should I get an attorney?

Reuben J. Donig, Esq.: Well, I think you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible. I mean, obviously the first thing you should do is go to the emergency room if you’ve got a serious injury. But after that, you should definitely talk to an attorney, hopefully before you start talking to the other side’s insurance company. There’s no cost involved, whether it’s done by the phone, or whether you make an appointment and see the attorney in his or her office, there’s no charge. Attorneys like myself take these cases on a contingency fee basis, and we certainly don’t charge to talk to you and explain the ins and outs of your case, the pros and cons, and the risks and benefits.

So definitely talk to an attorney as soon as possible. Don’t talk to a lot of other people, and don’t talk to the other side’s insurance company, talk to an attorney. As far as getting an attorney, after you’ve talked to an attorney, or possibly two or three attorneys, you’ll have a better idea and understanding of whether you’ve found an attorney who’s right for you and for your case, and you’ll have a better idea of whether you’ve got a good case, and the kind of case that an attorney will normally be interested in taking.

You can talk to an attorney about a minor whiplash that you just sustained when you got bumped into in a car accident, but the attorney will give you sufficient time and explanation of the ins and outs in the law of your case, but may not wish to take the case, or may explain to you that your case is the kind that you should be trying to resolve on your own. So as far as getting an attorney, that’s a different question from talking to an attorney. Talk to the attorney right away, and then you’ll know whether you should get an attorney.