When you've been involved in a car accident, the negligent driver may be liable for damages, but you'll need the help of an auto accident attorney to hold them accountable. According to Clio, the U.S. has about 1.3 million practicing attorneys. Here are four tips to help you find the perfect one to handle your case.

1. Get Recommendations From People You Trust

Chances are you know one or more people who have used the services of a local auto accident attorney. You can ask friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations for good attorneys and learn more about any positive encounters they've had. You also can ask about any you should avoid and why people advise against retaining their services. You can narrow your options with recommendations from people you know and trust.

2. Keep Experience in Mind

You need to ensure any attorney you retain has lots of experience handling auto accident cases. Not all attorneys specialize in auto accident injury cases. Lawyers who focus their legal practices on auto accidents should be the attorneys whose services you consider using for your case. They will be better able to help you build a good argument and file strongly supported claims.

3. Read Their Online Reviews

An experienced local attorney should have plenty of satisfied clients. You can read their reviews by doing a Google search for a particular attorney. The reviews may reference the type of case, the knowledge, and the professional nature of a particular attorney. The reviews may also tell you if the attorney is easy to contact and whether they communicate effectively with clients. Good online reviews can help steer you toward a good auto accident lawyer.

4. Consider the Attorney's Law Firm

Whether an attorney has a solo practice or works at a large law firm with many attorneys, the law firm should have a good reputation. Online reviews can tell you what people think of a law firm in general and their experiences having particular law firms handle their cases. The better a law firm's support staff is, the more likely the law firm's attorneys give clients good legal services.

If you've been involved in a car accident and you're looking for an experienced auto accident attorney, our legal team at Gridley, Ward & Hamilton is there for you. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with us.