Hiring a Lawyer After a Car Accident: 6 Questions to Ask
The best lawyer for a car accident claim tries crash cases regularly, charges only a percentage of what you recover, is licensed in the state where you were hit, and answers your deadline question on the first call. If your injuries are serious and the insurer is fighting you, weigh trial record first. If money is tight, start with the fee. If you live near the Mississippi and Tennessee line, check licensing before anything else.
Right after a crash you are juggling doctor visits, repair estimates, and an adjuster who wants a recorded statement. Search results show page after page of firms that all promise aggressive help, and that makes comparing them hard. This guide gives you six checks that separate one firm from another quickly, plus the question to ask at a free consultation for each check.
We write it from the view of Mayfield Law Firm, P.A., which has advocated for clients since 1974 from offices in Tupelo, Southaven, and Memphis. The examples therefore reflect Northeast Mississippi and South Memphis. Use the checks on any firm you are considering, ours included.
1. Trial-tested experience with car accident cases
A good car accident lawyer has handled crash claims through every stage , from treatment to settlement talks to trial, and can show you how. Insurers set their offers partly by guessing whether your lawyer will really file suit . A firm known for going to court usually gets better offers than one that only settles.
Insurers pay more when they believe your lawyer will actually go to trial.
What to look for
Start with years of practice in civil litigation, then ask what share of the caseload is auto accidents. Mayfield Law Firm has advocated for clients since 1974. Senior attorney Kenneth Mayfield, a 1973 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, has more than 40 years of civil litigation experience. The firm also takes truck and motorcycle cases, which matters because a tractor-trailer crash needs a very different investigation from a two-car collision.
- Years in civil litigation, not just years since licensing
- Recent jury trials, not only settlements
- Experience with your type of crash: car, truck, or motorcycle
Warning signs
Be careful with a firm that calls itself a trial firm but cannot name a recent trial. Be equally careful if your case is handed to a staff member you never meet. A third warning is a firm that takes every injury case under the sun with no focus.
Question to ask
Ask: How many car accident cases have you taken to a verdict, and who will try mine if it does not settle? A direct answer with a name and a number is what you want. A vague one tells you the firm settles by default.
2. A clear contingency fee and what you keep
Choose a firm that works on contingency, states its percentage in writing , and shows you the net math before you sign. Contingency means you pay no attorney fee unless you recover money. Mayfield Law Firm handles car accident cases this way, with an attorney fee of 29% for cases that settle .
The percentage matters less than knowing exactly what lands in your pocket.
What to look for
Many injury firms charge about one-third, and at many firms the percentage rises if a lawsuit is filed, so ask about both stages. The table shows the same settlement at two fee levels. This also answers the common question of how much of a $25,000 settlement you take home.
| Settlement | Fee at 29% | You keep at 29% | Fee at one-third | You keep at one-third |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $7,250 | $17,750 | $8,333 | $16,667 |
| $100,000 | $29,000 | $71,000 | $33,333 | $66,667 |
These "you keep" figures are before case expenses and any medical liens , which come out of the remainder. On a $25,000 settlement at 29%, you would start from $17,750 and subtract those items.
Warning signs
Walk away if the fee is not on paper, if "costs" are never explained, or if the firm asks for an upfront retainer in a contingency case. A promise of a specific settlement amount is another red flag, because no one can honestly guarantee one.
Question to ask
Ask: Is your percentage figured before or after case expenses, and does it change if you have to file suit? Get the answer in the written fee agreement.
3. Licensing and offices where your crash happened
Hire a lawyer licensed in the state where the crash occurred, with an office close enough to meet you in person when you want to. Mayfield Law Firm's attorneys are licensed in Mississippi and Tennessee , with offices in Tupelo, Southaven, and Memphis. That matters in this region because a Memphis resident hit in Southaven is under Mississippi law, and the rules differ from Tennessee's.
The state where the crash happened decides which law applies, so your lawyer must be licensed there.
What to look for
Confirm the license through the attorney directory of the state bar, which also shows any discipline. Then check how the firm meets clients. Mayfield Law Firm welcomes in-person and virtual meetings , which helps if you are recovering at home and cannot drive. The Tupelo office is in downtown Tupelo, the Southaven office is on East Goodman Road, and the Memphis office is on Jefferson Avenue.
- License in the state where the crash happened
- An office within reasonable reach of where you live
- Video or phone meetings if travel is hard
Warning signs
Beware of lead-generation sites that collect your details and sell your case to a firm you have never heard of. Also be wary of any firm where you cannot name the attorney responsible for your file.
Question to ask
Ask: Which attorney handles my case day to day, and can I meet that person at your office or by video? If the answer is a call center, keep looking.
4. A free consultation that actually tests the firm
A free consultation should be a real case review with an attorney, and you should leave knowing the fee, the deadline, and your next step. Book two or three and compare how each firm treats you. Mayfield Law Firm offers a free consultation , and you can reach the Tupelo office at 662.841.8844, Southaven at 662.404.8501, or Memphis at 901.300.4994.
A free consultation is your best chance to compare firms before you commit.
What to look for
Come prepared, because specifics earn specific answers. Bring what you have, even if it is incomplete.
- The police report or the report number
- Photos of the vehicles, the scene, and your injuries
- Your insurance card and the other driver's information
- Medical records and bills so far
- Letters or voicemails from any adjuster
Notice whether the attorney explains the process in plain words and whether you feel heard. Also note whether the fee agreement is offered for you to read at home.
Warning signs
Pressure to sign on the spot is a bad sign. So is a consultation where no attorney ever speaks to you, or where questions about fees and deadlines get brushed aside.
Question to ask
Ask: What is the biggest weakness in my claim? A lawyer who names a real weakness, such as a gap in treatment or shared fault, is giving you honest advice you can use.
5. How the firm handles insurers and proves your damages
A strong lawyer takes over insurer contact, builds the proof of fault, and values your whole loss , not just the bills so far. Mississippi is a fault-based state, so you can bring a claim against the negligent driver or that driver's insurer. Once you hire a lawyer, the adjuster's calls go to the firm.
A claim is only worth what your documents can prove, so the work starts well before negotiation.
What to look for
A good lawyer collects the evidence early: photos, witness names, the crash report, and your treatment records. The firm should then price every category of loss.
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost income and reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Vehicle and property damage
Also ask about your own insurance . Both Mississippi and Tennessee set minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries. A serious injury can exceed that, so your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may matter.
Warning signs
Be careful with a firm that pushes to settle before you know the long-term effect of your injuries. Fast settlements favor the firm's volume, not your recovery. Another red flag is anyone who quotes you an "average settlement." Results depend on injuries, medical costs, lost income, insurance limits, and fault, so averages mean little.
Question to ask
Ask: How will you document my future medical needs and lost income before you start negotiating? The answer should mention doctors' opinions and employer records, not just the bills you already have.
6. Command of deadlines and fault rules
Your lawyer should state your filing deadline and explain how shared fault affects you in the first conversation. Mississippi generally allows three years to sue over a car accident injury. Tennessee generally allows only one year . Missing the date usually ends your claim, however strong it was.
A deadline missed by one day can erase a claim that was worth six figures.
What to look for
The two states also treat shared fault differently. The table sets the main points side by side.
| Rule | Mississippi | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Time to sue for injuries | Generally 3 years | Generally 1 year |
| Shared fault | Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault | You recover only if you are less than 50% at fault, reduced by your share |
Exceptions exist. Claims against a government body, such as a city vehicle, can carry much shorter notice deadlines. Treat the table as general information and have a lawyer confirm how it applies to you.
Many people also ask how hard it is to win. It depends mainly on proving the other driver's fault and documenting your injuries. A clear police report, consistent treatment, and early evidence make the difference.
Warning signs
Be wary of a lawyer who says you have "plenty of time" without giving a date. Also be wary of one who cannot explain how your own share of fault would change the result.
Question to ask
Ask: What is my exact filing deadline, and by what date will you file suit if the insurer has not made a fair offer? Write that date down.
Pick the firm that passes all six checks
A good car accident lawyer has real trial experience, a fee in writing, a license in the right state, a consultation that tests the fit, a plan for insurers and damages, and the deadline in hand. If a firm fails even one of these, keep comparing. Free consultations cost you nothing, so use two or three of them before you decide.
If your crash happened in Northeast Mississippi or the Memphis area, you can schedule a free consultation with Mayfield Law Firm's car accident lawyers and bring these six questions with you. Start soon, because evidence fades and deadlines run from the day of the crash, and in Tennessee that clock is only one year.
