Accident.com Personal Injury Attorney Services Review

Services

Accident.com is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. It is an attorney referral website that is used by its affiliated attorneys to advertise their services. Clients pay nothing to use the site. Attorneys pay a fee to be part of the Accident.com network. 

To use the site, you'll be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire. Clients must provide their contact information and a summary of their potential claims. To assist Accident.com in connecting you to the best lawyer for your needs, it behooves you to provide as cogent a description as you can. Be aware, however, that when you request an attorney referral, Accident.com may share your personal contact information not only with attorneys who can handle your case, but also with other marketers. You must agree to that provision in order to access Accident.com's referral service. It's unclear from Accident.com's website what kinds of companies your information may be shared with, but experience tells us that it could be many companies offering services unrelated to personal injury law.

National Coverage

Most personal injury suits are brought in local and state courts. Accident.com offers nationwide coverage and will recommend attorneys who are licensed to practice in your state and admitted to the courts where your case will be pursued, should your attorney be unable to reach a settlement with the defendants in your case. When cases are not settled, a jury trial often results. 

Attorney Credentials

Accident.com does not list its affiliated attorneys on its website, which is understandable since there are probably thousands of them. But as a client, it's important to research the background and credentials of any attorney recommended by the site who you decide to speak with. There are many websites you can access to read attorney profiles and reviews. These sites typically provide an attorney's educational background, years of experience, and court admissions. Before you agree to work with an attorney, you should also consult your state's attorney disciplinary agency. The American Bar Association maintains a nationwide list of these agencies

Pricing

As previously mentioned, Accident.com is a free service. The actual cost of pursuing your case will be set by the attorney you hire. Plaintiffs' lawyers typically take personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning you will pay about a third of the sum you recover at the conclusion of your case. No fees are due upfront. Some attorneys also require clients to pay for certain expenses they incur while handling your case, such as court filing and expert witness fees. Be sure to ask an attorney about his or her specific pricing structure before making a hiring decision and signing a contingent fee agreement.

Online Resources

Accident.com doesn't provide much in the way of educational resources for clients. There's a brief FAQ section on the site, but it only provides the briefest of answers to three questions. The company also publishes a blog, but again, it's short on content and hasn't been updated in several years. As a client, you'll have to rely on your attorney to fill you in on the ins and outs of personal injury law and how it applies to your claim.