If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident and you believe a faulty airbag or ignition switch contributed to the injury or death, you should contact a defective airbag lawyer immediately.

But how do you even go about finding and hiring a defective airbag lawyer?

The following information is meant to help you and your loved ones make the right decisions when looking for and hiring a defective airbag lawyer.

Step 1: Finding a Lawyer:

  1. Ask Around: the best way to find someone for something as important as handling a defective airbag lawsuit is by word of mouth. Of course not everyone will need a defective airbag lawyer in their lifetime, so finding an attorney through your network of friends may not be possible. But, it is worth a try. You never know — someone you know may have a friend or a cousin who is in the legal field and who may know someone who can help you. Ways to ask around include talking to friends, family and coworkers; or posting an inquiry on social medium such as Facebook.
  2. Search the Web: if you can’t find anyone through your network of friends and family the easiest way to find a defective airbag lawyer is by searching the Internet for law offices near you. But, it is important to keep in mind that anyone can pay a marketing company to make their website come up on the first page of a Google search. So, finding a law office online is only the first step. Once you find a lawyer online, the next step is determining if he or she is the right attorney for you and your case.

Step 2: The Consultation:

Once you find an attorney that seems promising, the next step is to make sure he or she is a good fit for you and your case. The first thing you should do is schedule an initial consultation with the attorney to determine if he or she is a good fit for your case and if he or she is willing to take your case on. When scheduling your consultation, here are some things to keep in mind:

  1. All initial consultations should be free of charge: if an attorney charges you for the first consultation, you should decline. All initial consultations should be private and free of charge.
  2. Consultations are like interviews: when you consult with an attorney the first time, remember you have not hired him or her yet. Yes you will be sharing information about your potential case and you will be answering questions about the accident and injury, but, you should also view the consultation as an interview for the attorney. Don’t be afraid to ask about his or her past history or experience with these types of cases. And even though you are only in the initial stage, don’t be afraid to ask what steps he or she will take in handling your case if he or she agrees to take it on.
  3. Make sure you hire a qualified lawyer: there are millions of personal injury lawyers who claim they can handle these types of product liability claims. However, just because someone is a personal injury lawyer, it doesn’t mean he or she has the right skill set to handle your case appropriately. You will need to make sure you hire someone with a successful track record in auto defect claims. There is a big difference between car crash claims and auto defect claims. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific examples of previous cases and outcomes. A qualified defective airbag lawyer will be happy to share his/her past successes with you.
  4. Make sure you get a good vibe: product liability claims are very involved and can take a long period of time before reaching a settlement or award. Because of this, you need to feel comfortable and confident with the attorney you choose to hire. If you do not get a good feeling about an attorney, he or she may not be a good fit for your family or your case. You want someone you can talk to and someone who will make you feel like they are putting your best interests first.

Step 3: The Contract:

If you find an attorney you feel confident with and you decide you want to hire him or her, the final step to retaining his or her services is to sign a contract so both parties can agree on what happens next. Some things you should keep in mind as you sign the contract:

  1. Product liability lawyers should work on contingency: all services should be free unless your case is settled or won. If your attorney is trying to charge you for services up front, you should look for another lawyer.
  2. Make sure your lawyer is open to communication: you should be able to call or lawyer anytime throughout the legal process if you have questions or concerns. Make sure that he or she is open to calls and contact throughout the process.
  3. Find out about help with medical bills: in the event of a serious injury, your lawyer may be able to help you pay for medical bills and other financial losses before a settlement is reached. If you need help with medical bills and other financial damages, ask if he or she is willing to front you the money.
  4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions: legal jargon can be difficult to understand. If you have any problems understanding what is in the contract, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your lawyer should be willing to explain every part of the process in detail so you know what to expect along the way.

Why You Might Need a Lawyer

Over the last 2 years millions of vehicles have been recalled because of a possible Takeda airbag defect that could lead to serious injury and death. The recall, which is the largest vehicle recall in the history of recalls, involves some 65 million vehicles, of which only two-thirds have been fixed.

What this means is millions of people could potentially still be at risk for harm from these exploding defective airbags. If you or someone you love is the owner of a vehicle equipped with a recalled airbag you may be at risk for injury or death. If an accident does occur and someone is seriously injured, you should contact a defective airbag lawyer immediately to find out if you qualify for compensation. NOTE: an investigation needs to be conducted immediately to determine whether the airbag was faulty and played a role in the injury or death. Because of this, it is important to hire an attorney right away to make sure a proper investigation is conducted.

For more information about the GM airbag defect caused by the ignition switch or to speak with a qualified defective airbag attorney about a possible case, contact ConsumerProtect today.