An Irvine car accident lawyer is an absolute necessity if you want to recover all the damages to which you are entitled from your car accident.  But how do you choose the right Irvine car accident attorney?  With so many attorneys around, many of them advertising for your business, it can be a bit confusing to choose the one which will work best with you.  However, there are some basic rules to choosing an attorney which do not change, no matter what the situation.  Here are some tips for finding the right Irvine car accident attorney to handle your case.

1) Listen to what others tell you. One of the best ways to find out how an attorney works with clients is to talk to those who have used that particular lawyer.  Former clients tend to give unbiased reviews; if a former client is angry with an attorney, there is usually a reason.  On the other hand, a client who tells you that the attorney was approachable, easy to talk to, and worked hard to get her a fair settlement is probably not just trying to drum up business for her former lawyer.  Talk to people you trust who you know have used a personal injury lawyer in the past and ask for honest recommendations.

2) Talk to the attorney during a free consultation.  Any attorney who tries to charge you for a consultation should not be used.  Any reputable Irvine car accident attorney will always talk to you about your case for free.  During this conversation, ask the attorney questions you have about the process of collecting your damages, and also listen for how the attorney responds to you.  If he or she is too busy to talk or brushes you off, you might want to talk to another attorney.  On the other hand, if both of you seem to see "eye-to-eye," you probably have the start of a good working relationship.

3) Be realistic and fair.  You might think your case is worth far more, or far less, than your attorney.  No good attorney will deliberately inflate settlement figures, but no good attorney will go for the fast and quick settlement if there is a good possibility of a higher recovery, either.  You should listen to your attorney; if he or she says to wait, there is a reason for it.  If he or she says it is time to settle, it probably is.

4) Understand how your attorney will be paid.  Some people sign a fee agreement without understanding what it says.  This is the most important document in the whole process of hiring a personal injury attorney, so be sure you understand what it says, and ask questions if you do not.  Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency basis, meaning they are paid with a portion of the proceeds of your settlement.  However, be sure you understand all the implications of a retainer, of fees charged against your settlement, and other issues.