Many Americans enjoy the freedom of travel. They may drive daily to work, take their children to school or activities and do errands. Longer trips might include going to events and vacation spots across town or across the country.
Unfortunately, accidents can happen anywhere, leaving those affected in need of legal assistance. Many people wonder if they should call a lawyer in the location where the accident happened or from their home location. While you can do either, there are several reasons why one option is better.
Is Hiring a Lawyer Local to the Accident or Local to Your Location Better?
You will usually get better results with your accident claim if you select a lawyer local to where an accident happened. Jurisdiction laws govern where you can file a lawsuit after an accident, and most mandate filing your claim in the state where accidents occur.
1. Knowledge of Local Laws
Every state has the right to set its own laws that govern how courts handle car accident claims. At times, even different jurisdictions within the same state further define these statutes and procedures. Local attorneys have experience handling cases following location-specific laws, making us better equipped than lawyers from other locations.
Negligence Laws
States have different ways of handling car accident claims when more than one party shares fault. These negligence laws determine whether an injured person can file a claim; they also dictate how much compensation that person might receive.
Each driver in an accident receives an assigned percentage of fault. New York follows a pure comparative negligence law, meaning that anyone involved in a car accident can seek compensation from other at-fault parties, even if they share the blame. However, the degree of fault reduces payout amounts by the same percentage.
Other states use other forms of comparative or contributory negligence laws. An out-of-state attorney who is used to a different law may not be able to operate as effectively.
Personal Injury Protection Insurance
New York laws require drivers to purchase and maintain personal injury protection insurance policies, but not every state has this mandate. This difference significantly affects insurance claims. Lawyers from at-fault insurance states might be at a disadvantage due to their unfamiliarity.
2. Accident Investigations
Many car accident claims require investigations to determine why they happen and who is at fault. These investigations typically involve visiting the accident scene, interviewing eyewitnesses and canvassing the immediate vicinity, looking for video surveillance footage that captured the accident in progress.
If you hire a law firm in a different location, the distances involved might hamper their ability to conduct an effective, thorough investigation. In addition, people might be leery of speaking candidly to out-of-state investigators.
3. Local Networks
Law offices usually have networks of professional contacts that they can call upon during an accident claim. These networks might include police department officials, private investigators, medical providers and car repair shops.
Most people cooperate better with people they are familiar with, giving local attorneys a home-field advantage.
4. State Bar Requirements
Any practicing and licensed attorney must have an admittance to state bar associations. In many cases, lawyers obtain licenses in neighboring states. For instance, Cellino Law can practice in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
There are provisions that typically allow attorneys to practice in states where they have no licensure. With this pro hac vice allowance, out-of-state lawyers must obtain permission from the state’s bar and partner with an in-state attorney.
5. Proximity to Courts
Attorneys strive to settle car accident claims without the need for a trial. However, there are times when going to court may be necessary to obtain a reasonable settlement. Court cases typically involve multiple paperwork filings and a physical presence in the courthouse or courtroom.
Theoretically, you could hire one attorney to negotiate a settlement and another if you need to file a civil lawsuit. However, that avenue will likely lead to duplicated investigations, which can be costly. Hiring one law firm that can handle all eventualities makes sense.
If the lawyer you hire is not in the appropriate jurisdiction, they will need to travel or send someone on their behalf. Either of these choices will incur additional expenses that you wouldn’t have if you chose a lawyer in the same jurisdiction as where your accident happened.
Expenses
Many personal injury firms, including Cellino Law, take cases on a contingency fee basis. That means that you won’t pay fees unless we win compensation for you. However, some expenses will likely come out of your payout.
Keep in mind that these expenses will probably include costs related to out-of-state practice, investigation and travel requirements if you hire a lawyer close to where you live rather than one close to where your accident happened.
What Should You Look for When Considering Attorneys To Hire?
Several factors make some attorneys stand out from the rest, and understanding these can help, particularly if you are searching for a lawyer far away from your home after a car accident:
- Legal practice area: While any attorney could technically handle a car accident claim, those who focus on personal injury law have likely handled many cases similar to yours. This familiarity gives us several advantages. We know how to conduct an investigation properly, what evidence to look for, where to find it and how to overcome commonly used insurance company tactics. You wouldn’t go to a plumber with an electrical issue, and you shouldn’t take a personal injury case to a law firm that doesn’t focus on this area if you want favorable results.
- Favorable reviews and results: Look for attorneys with positive client testimonials and posted case results. Cellino Law has many satisfied client reviews available for your viewing. We have negotiated over $2 billion in settlements and millions more in recoveries.
- Resources: Building a successful claim takes resources. Look for an attorney with the necessary resources at their disposal to handle your case.
- Availability: Accidents don’t follow normal business hours, so you need an attorney who is available when you need them. You can speak to someone at Cellino Law 24/7.
- Litigation experience: Not every attorney is comfortable in a courtroom. Look for lawyers who have trial experience in addition to honed negotiating skills.
- Payment terms: Be sure to understand whether you are responsible for paying any upfront costs and how much you will owe your attorney for handling your car accident claim. At Cellino Law, you pay nothing upfront and no fees unless we win your case.
Take advantage of the free consultations that attorneys like Cellino Law offer. During this initial conversation, we will assess your accident, tell you whether you have a valid claim and how we can help.
Why Should You Choose Cellino Law for Assistance After an Accident?
A Cellino Law firm has handled a wide variety of personal injury accidents since 1958. These decades of experience, coupled with our firm’s resources and convenient locations across New York, put us in a unique position to obtain favorable outcomes for our clients. We will fight to protect your right to fair compensation.
If you sustain injuries in a New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Connecticut car accident, we can help, regardless of where you live. Contact Cellino Law today to request your free case review.