Finding and meeting the right attorney can seem intimidating, especially for someone who has never retained an auto attorney.

So how do you go about finding the best car accident attorney to handle your case? I recommend you do the following:

• Start by talking to family, friends and co-workers to see if someone they know was involved in a car accident lawsuit. Ask them about their experience and if they would recommend your auto attorney.

• Search the Internet for local auto accident attorneys. Check their websites for professional advice and strong case histories. Beware of advertising materials and websites that contain self-proclaimed endorsements such as “the best, the best, the leader”, which cannot be supported by facts or verified by reputable third parties.

• Avoid the Yellow Pages: The best car accident lawyers don’t have to do a lot of advertising, they win new clients through positive word of mouth or referrals from other lawyers.

Once you’ve identified a few potential auto attorneys, do some research before contacting their offices:

• Seek third-party verification of the law firm and the lawyer’s reputation by reviewing legal publications, such as Michigan Lawyers Weekly, for any positive or negative publicity about the lawyer or the cases he has handled.

• Contact the Michigan State Bar Association and Martindale-Hubbell, or visit those websites to find out if the lawyer is reputable. Martindale-Hubbell’s AV rating is the highest for legal ability and ethics, although very few Michigan attorneys and law firms have received this top rating.

• The car accident attorney should be active in Michigan legal organizations such as the Michigan Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, and the Michigan State Bar Association; not only as members, but also as leaders familiar with the latest developments in Michigan no-fault insurance and auto negligence personal injury law.

Once you’ve verified the quality of an auto attorney, call to schedule an initial consultation. Some firms will charge a consultation fee to meet with you, but most Michigan car accident lawyers offer free consultations to better inform potential clients, with no fee or obligation. Because auto accident cases are very time sensitive, you should expect the attorney to respond promptly to a phone or internet request immediately.

The first meeting is very important in deciding if a car accident attorney or law firm is the right one for you. Here are some ideas for questions to ask during your consultation that can help gauge whether a particular attorney will be the best fit for your case:

1. How easy will it be to contact you?
2. What customer references do you have who can comment on your skills and reliability?
3. How many cases like mine have you handled in the last year?
4. Who else in the office will work on my case?
5. How is payment for services handled? Are there any fees that I will have to pay out of pocket during or at the end of my case?
6. If I lose my case and no compensation is awarded, do I still owe you anything for your time and effort? (Generally speaking, auto attorneys will charge for their services on a contingency fee basis, where the client pays the attorney 33 percent of what the attorney collects in a settlement or if the case goes to trial.)

After the consultation is complete, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did the car accident attorney listen correctly?
2. Did the attorney explain legal issues to me in terms I could understand?
3. Did the auto attorney seem very knowledgeable about Michigan’s no-fault law and how the law applies to my specific case? Did he have to “look into it” and come back to me?
4. Did the attorney at the time seem to understand my medical injuries and offer to refer me to the best medical care?

Ultimately, you want to choose the car accident attorney that you believe will do the best job for you. Even if you choose not to hire an attorney or file a lawsuit, there is nothing wrong with getting initial advice on steps you can take to protect yourself immediately after a serious injury from a Michigan car accident.