5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

The right car accident lawyer should (1) take over insurance communications fast, (2) preserve evidence before it disappears, (3) document your injuries and financial losses clearly, (4) explain fees/costs in plain English, and (5) be willing to file suit and prep for trial if the insurer won’t pay fairly.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a licensed Arizona attorney.

Why these 5 questions matter

Most people hire a lawyer when they feel overwhelmed—calls from insurance adjusters, medical appointments, vehicle damage, missed work. A strong lawyer doesn’t just “file a claim.” They build leverage: evidence + medical documentation + clean communication + a credible damages file that forces the insurer to take your case seriously.

These five questions are designed to reveal the truth fast:

• Will your case be handled with a real plan, or tossed into a backlog?
• Will the lawyer protect you from common insurance traps?
• Will they push hard enough to get fair value—or fold early?

Question 1: “Who will actually handle my case day-to-day?”

What you’re testing: responsiveness, accountability, and consistency.

A good answer sounds like

• “Your attorney is ___, your case manager is ___, and you’ll get updates every ___.”
• “We respond within ___ hours/days.”
• “Here’s how you reach us (phone, email, text).”

Red flags

• Vague handoffs (“whoever is available”)
• No timeline for updates
• You can’t get a straight answer on who calls the shots

Big Chad Law tie-in 

If you’re evaluating Big Chad Law specifically, they emphasize access (including being available 24/7) and invite people to schedule a free case review.

Read more: What to Do After a Car Accident

Question 2: “How do you get paid—and what costs could I still owe?”

What you’re testing: fee transparency and whether the firm explains money without dodging.

What you want them to explain clearly

• Contingency fee: you generally don’t pay attorney fees upfront; the lawyer gets paid from the recovery (if there is one).
• Case costs: records, expert opinions, filing fees, depositions—who advances them and how they’re handled.
• What happens if the case doesn’t win: do you owe costs or not?

Big Chad Law tie-in

Big Chad Law states they offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis (“you don’t pay unless we win”).

Read more: Do I Call My Insurance If It’s Not My Fault?

Question 3: “What will you do in the first 7 days to protect my claim?”

What you’re testing: real competence. Most “how to choose a lawyer” articles stay fluffy here. Don’t.

A strong first-week plan includes

• Insurance control: they take over communications so you don’t get pressured into saying the wrong thing.
• Evidence preservation: crash report, photos/video, witnesses, vehicle damage documentation, and requests to preserve any available footage.
• Coverage mapping: identify all applicable insurance policies and all potentially liable parties.
• Medical documentation strategy: they’ll tell you what to document, how treatment gaps can affect a claim, and how to keep the record clean.

Red flags

• “We’ll see what the insurance offers first.”
• No mention of evidence disappearing or witness memory fading.
• No plan for medical records, wage loss proof, or timeline management.

Read more: Who Pays Medical Bills After a Car Accident?

Question 4: “How will you prove damages and value the case?”

What you’re testing: whether they can prove your case, not just talk about it.

A good lawyer should explain how they build the damages file:

• Medical records + bills (and how they connect injuries to the crash)
• Wage loss (pay stubs, employer confirmation, missed time)
• Future needs (ongoing treatment, rehab, limitations)
• Life impact (credible, specific changes—sleep, work ability, daily activities)

Red flags

• Promising an exact dollar value early (before records/investigation)
• Ignoring future care or wage impact
• No method—just “we’ll negotiate hard”

Read more: When to Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Question 5: “If the insurer won’t pay fairly, are you ready to file suit and prep for trial?”

What you’re testing: leverage. Insurers can tell when a firm avoids litigation.

A strong answer includes

• What triggers a lawsuit (disputed fault, lowballing, policy issues)
• What litigation looks like (discovery, depositions, mediation)
• How they prepare your story (evidence, witnesses, exhibits)
• How they communicate risk and decision points without pressure

Big Chad Law tie-in

Big Chad Law’s site highlights that they negotiate settlements when possible, but are prepared to represent clients in court if needed.

Arizona deadline check (don’t skip this)

Deadlines can kill a strong claim.

• Most Arizona personal injury claims have a 2-year statute of limitations (A.R.S. § 12-542).
• Claims against public entities can require action within 180 days under Arizona’s Notice of Claim statute (A.R.S. § 12-821.01).

If there’s any chance a government vehicle/employee is involved, don’t “wait and see.”

Quick scorecard table (use this when you call firms)