Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Car Injury Attorney

21 Sep Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Car Injury Attorney

Before hiring a Car Injury Attorney, ask questions that reveal more than how long the lawyer has practiced or whether the consultation is free. You need to know who will actually handle your claim, how the attorney communicates, what the fee agreement means, how weaknesses in your case will be addressed, and whether the lawyer is prepared to keep moving if an insurer refuses to make a reasonable offer.

That matters after a Florida car accident because seemingly simple claims can become complicated. Fault may be disputed. Medical treatment may still be ongoing. Several insurance policies may be involved. The insurer may argue that some of your injuries existed before the crash.

The attorney you choose may be dealing with those issues for months or longer.

At Law Kevin, Attorney Kevin L. Sullivan II offers a free, no-obligation consultation, provides clients with his direct cell phone number, deals with the insurance companies, and charges no attorney’s fee unless he wins for you. His website reports more than $40 million recovered for clients.

Key Takeaways

• Ask about experience with car accident claims similar to yours rather than relying only on total years in practice.
• Find out who will personally handle your claim and whether you can communicate directly with the attorney.
• Understand both the contingency attorney fee and separate case costs before signing a representation agreement.
• A useful consultation should address potential weaknesses, including disputed fault, limited insurance, and questions about your injuries.
• Ask what happens if the insurer refuses to offer a reasonable settlement and whether the attorney is prepared for litigation.
• Be cautious of anyone who promises a specific settlement amount or exact timeline before enough facts are known.

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Call us at (813) 598-4868

1. How Much of Your Practice Involves Car Accident and Personal Injury Claims?

Ask the attorney how regularly they handle motor vehicle accident claims and whether they have dealt with cases involving circumstances similar to yours.

Car accident cases can involve more than proving that another driver caused a collision. Depending on the facts, the lawyer may need to address insurance coverage, medical documentation, lost income, pre-existing conditions, vehicle damage, several responsible parties, or allegations that you contributed to the accident.

That last issue can be particularly important in Florida.

Under Florida’s current comparative-fault statute, damages in a negligence case are generally reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of fault. A party found more than 50% responsible for their own harm generally cannot recover damages in a covered negligence action.

So instead of asking only:

“How many years have you been a lawyer?”

Ask something more useful:

“How often do you handle car accident claims involving issues like mine?”

Attorney Kevin’s practice includes car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle crashes, Lyft and Uber accidents, bicycle accidents, and other personal injury matters. His biography states that he practices personal injury and civil litigation in Florida and has handled personal injury and accident cases throughout the state.

2. Who Will Actually Handle My Case?

You should know who will make important decisions, communicate with the insurer, review settlement offers, and answer your questions.

The attorney conducting the initial consultation is not necessarily the person a client communicates with most often at every law firm.

There is nothing inherently wrong with paralegals, legal assistants, or other attorneys helping with a case. Personal injury claims require considerable administrative work.

The important issue is transparency.

Ask:

“Will you personally handle my case, and when I have an important question, will I be able to speak directly with you?”

The competitor article makes a similar point, encouraging prospective clients to determine who will actually work on the file instead of assuming the lawyer they first meet will personally handle every aspect of it.

This is also one area where Attorney Kevin makes a specific promise. Every client receives his direct cell phone number, (813) 598-4868, and his website states that maintaining contact and keeping clients informed is a priority.

That is something you should ask any attorney about before hiring them.

3. What Will I Pay, and How Are Case Costs Handled?

Do not stop after hearing, “You pay nothing unless we win.”

Ask exactly how the contingency fee works and what happens to separate expenses associated with the case.

The Florida Bar explains that personal injury lawyers may use contingency-fee agreements under which the attorney receives an agreed percentage of a successful recovery. Those agreements must be in writing and explain the percentage, litigation expenses, other costs deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the attorney fee is calculated.

Case costs can include expenses such as court filing fees, records, or expert-witness expenses. These are separate from the attorney’s compensation.

Questions worth asking include:

• What percentage will you charge?
• Can that percentage change if litigation progresses?
• Which case expenses could be deducted?
• Do you advance those expenses?
• Would I owe any costs if there is no recovery?
• Are costs deducted before or after the attorney fee is calculated?

The Florida Bar also makes clear that contingency percentages are negotiable rather than legally fixed at one mandatory percentage. Florida clients generally have three business days to reconsider and cancel a contingency-fee contract after signing it, subject to the applicable rules regarding actual costs.

At Law Kevin, Attorney Kevin offers a free, no-obligation consultation and states that attorney’s fees are charged only when he wins for the client.

You should still read the written representation agreement carefully so you understand all terms that apply to your specific case.

4. What Problems or Weaknesses Do You See in My Case?

This may be one of the most revealing questions you can ask.

A useful Car Injury Attorney should not spend the entire consultation telling you everything you want to hear.

Ask:

“Based on what you know so far, what could make my claim difficult?”

The answer may involve:

• Disputed liability
• Allegations that you were partly responsible
• Delays or gaps in medical treatment
• A pre-existing injury
• Limited insurance coverage
• Several people making claims against the same policy
• Unclear evidence
• Disagreement over whether the crash caused all of your medical problems
• Incomplete documentation of lost income

An attorney may not be able to resolve those questions during an initial consultation. That is normal.

What matters is whether the lawyer can identify the issues that need investigation instead of treating every accident case as if it follows the same script.

Attorney Kevin’s own website notes that accident-case values depend on factors including fault, injuries, property damage, medical expenses, and the number of injured people, while emphasizing that other circumstances can also matter.

That is a much more realistic starting point than promising a dollar amount after hearing only a short description of the crash.

5. How Will You Communicate With Me While the Claim Is Pending?

Do not wait until months into the case to discover that your expectations and your lawyer’s communication style are completely different.

Ask what normal communication looks like.

You may want to know:

Who provides routine updates? How quickly are calls returned? Will I hear from the attorney directly? Will you contact me when there is a settlement offer? What information do you need me to report while I am treating?

Florida Bar professionalism guidance states that lawyers must routinely keep clients informed and attempt to resolve client concerns.

Communication matters particularly in injury cases because important facts keep changing.

Your doctor may recommend another procedure. You may be unable to return to work. Your condition may improve. The insurance company may make an offer. New evidence may become available.

Your attorney needs the relevant information, and you need to understand what is happening with your claim.

At Law Kevin, clients receive Attorney Kevin’s direct cell number. His website says he prioritizes updating clients throughout the process and addressing questions within a reasonable period.

6. What Happens if the Insurance Company Will Not Make a Reasonable Offer?

Most injured people understandably hope their case settles without prolonged litigation.

But you should know what the attorney plans to do if settlement negotiations stop producing progress.

Ask:

“If the insurance company disputes the claim or refuses to make an acceptable offer, what would the next stage look like?”

The purpose of this question is not to demand that every car accident claim go to trial.

Many claims resolve without trial, and whether filing a lawsuit makes sense depends on the specific facts.

Instead, you are trying to understand whether the lawyer evaluates the case only as a quick insurance negotiation or is prepared to consider additional legal action when the circumstances justify it.

You can also ask about experience with cases that progressed beyond pre-suit negotiations.

If the attorney discusses prior verdicts or results, remember that earlier results do not guarantee what will happen in your claim. Each accident depends on its own evidence, insurance coverage, injuries, damages, and legal issues.

7. What Is Your Realistic Assessment of My Case and Timeline?

A good initial consultation should leave you better informed, not simply more excited.

Ask the attorney what is known, what is still unknown, and what needs to happen before the claim can be evaluated properly.

For example, a lawyer may need to know:

• Who appears to be at fault
• What insurance is available
• Whether liability is disputed
• The nature of your injuries
• How your treatment progresses
• Whether additional treatment may be required
• How much work you have missed
• Whether your injuries create longer-term limitations

Those variables can affect both case value and timing.

Be cautious about an attorney who guarantees a particular settlement amount or promises that a case will resolve by a specific date before the evidence is developed.

There is another reason to discuss timing.

Under the 2026 Florida Statutes, an action founded on negligence generally must be commenced within two years, although exceptions and different deadlines may apply depending on the claim.

That does not mean every injured person has exactly two years under every circumstance.

It means deadlines are one of the issues a Florida attorney should identify early rather than leaving until the claim has been pending for a long time.

What Answers Should Raise Concerns?

The answers matter more than simply asking the seven questions.

A consultation should give you enough information to understand the working relationship you are considering.

Be cautious if a lawyer:

• Will not explain who will handle the case
• Avoids explaining fees or costs
• Guarantees a particular recovery
• Gives an exact case value before reviewing meaningful evidence
• Cannot explain possible weaknesses in the claim
• Is unclear about how clients receive updates
• Pressures you to sign without giving you an opportunity to understand the agreement

That does not mean an attorney must know every answer immediately.

Car accident claims often require investigation.

A credible answer can simply be:

“We do not know that yet, and here is what we need to find out.”

That kind of clarity is often more valuable than certainty that the available evidence does not support.

Should You Ask How Many Cases the Attorney Is Handling?

You can, but a raw caseload number does not necessarily tell you whether you will receive good representation.

One lawyer might manage a large number of straightforward claims with significant staff and organized systems. Another might have fewer cases that require far more intensive litigation.

A more revealing version of the question is:

“How is my case staffed, who is responsible for each part, and how accessible will you be when an important decision comes up?”

The competitor article recommends asking about current caseload because an overloaded attorney may struggle to give a claim proper attention. That concern is reasonable.

But accessibility and responsibility often tell a prospective client more than one number taken out of context.

Should You Hire the First Car Injury Attorney You Speak With?

You do not have to.

The Florida Bar’s Statement of Clients’ Rights specifically says prospective clients may discuss a proposed contingency fee and speak with other lawyers if they do not reach an agreement with the first attorney.

A free consultation is an opportunity to evaluate the lawyer as much as it is an opportunity for the lawyer to evaluate your case.

Pay attention to whether your questions are answered clearly.

Do you understand who will handle the claim? Do you understand the fee? Did the attorney discuss both strengths and possible problems? Do you know how communication will work?

Those details matter after the consultation ends.

Why Talk With Attorney Kevin After a Florida Car Accident?

At Law Kevin, Attorney Kevin L. Sullivan II focuses his practice on helping injured people in Florida, including people hurt in car, motorcycle, truck, rideshare, bicycle, and other accidents. His website reports $40 million+ recovered for clients and states that he has handled personal injury and accident matters throughout Florida.

More importantly for someone choosing an attorney, his client promises answer several of the questions in this guide:

• Free consultation. You can discuss your accident without an initial consultation charge.
• Direct communication. Clients receive Attorney Kevin’s personal cell phone number: (813) 598-4868.
• Insurance-company handling. Attorney Kevin deals with the insurers while clients focus on their health.
• No attorney fee unless he wins. His site states that if he does not win for you, you owe him no attorney’s fee.

Those commitments do not eliminate the need to ask questions.

They give you a useful place to start the conversation.

Ask the Questions Before You Sign

Hiring a Car Injury Attorney is not only about finding someone willing to take the case.

You are choosing the person who may communicate with insurance companies, evaluate offers, help document your losses, explain difficult decisions, and guide the claim while you are trying to recover from an accident.

Use the consultation to find out how that relationship will actually work.

At Law Kevin, Attorney Kevin offers a free, no-obligation consultation, gives clients his direct cell number, handles communications with the insurance companies, and charges no attorney’s fee unless he wins for you.

If you were injured in a Florida car accident and want to ask Attorney Kevin these questions about your own situation, call Attorney Kevin L. Sullivan II at 813) 598-4868.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I ask a Car Injury Attorney during a free consultation?

A: Ask about experience with claims like yours, who will handle the case, fees and costs, possible weaknesses, communication, what happens if settlement negotiations fail, and the attorney’s realistic assessment of the claim and timeline.

Q: How much does a Florida car accident attorney charge?

A: Many Florida personal injury attorneys use contingency fees, meaning the attorney’s compensation is an agreed percentage of a successful recovery. Florida requires contingency agreements to be in writing and to explain how fees and case expenses are calculated.

Q: Should I ask a lawyer what my car accident case is worth?

A: Yes, but do not expect a reliable exact value before enough information is available. Fault, insurance coverage, medical treatment, lost income, injury severity, and other circumstances can affect a claim. Attorney Kevin specifically notes that accident-case values vary based on the individual facts.

Q: Should a lawyer guarantee that my car accident case will settle?

A: No lawyer can know with certainty how an insurer, opposing party, judge, or jury will respond to a claim. A useful consultation should explain possibilities, risks, and next steps rather than guarantee an outcome.

Q: How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Florida?

A: Florida’s 2026 statute generally provides a two-year limitations period for actions founded on negligence. Different circumstances can change which deadline applies, so the specific date should be evaluated by an attorney based on the facts of the claim.

Q: What if I was partly responsible for the car accident?

A: Florida generally reduces negligence damages according to the claimant’s share of fault. Under current law, a party who is found more than 50% at fault for their own harm generally cannot recover damages in a negligence action covered by the statute.

Q: Can I speak directly with Attorney Kevin?

A: Yes. Law Kevin states that clients receive Attorney Kevin’s direct cell phone number so they can reach him with questions and concerns during the claim. His number is (813) 598-4868.

Get a Free Consultation

Call us at (813) 598-4868