When you need help getting justice after a wrongful death occurs, getting the right legal assistance on your side is vital. But what should you look for in a wrongful death attorney? Follow the tips below to help you get the quality representation you deserve.
7 Tips for Finding a High-Quality Wrongful Death Attorney
1. Make Sure They Have the Necessary Experience
Experience is a key factor to consider when hiring any professional, and a wrongful death lawyer is no exception to this rule. You want to ensure they have the necessary experience to navigate the legal process on your behalf and effectively argue your case. That’s why you should only seek representation from a well-established law firm.
Along with just seeing their years of experience, find out whether or not they have experience handling cases similar to yours. Find out more from a wrongful death attorney about how they will assist you in getting compensation for damages incurred from the specific circumstances surrounding the wrongful death of your loved one. If they’ve dealt with similar cases in the past, they’ll be able to put that experience to use for you.
2. See What Past Clients Say About Them
You can learn a lot about a lawyer by checking to see what people who hired them in the past have to say about them. The internet provides many great resources for easily finding information on what an attorney’s past clients have to say about their experience with the law firm. You’ll be able to see whether or not previous clients found the representation they provided effective or not.
Along with learning about the attorney’s effectiveness in the courtroom, checking what past clients have to say can also help you learn about the lawyer’s professionalism and courtesy. See what people are saying about their interactions with the lawyer as well as the results of their case. This will give you a more complete picture of what working with them will be like.
3. Ensure They Are Prompt and Respectful Communicating with You
You can learn much about a lawyer in their initial communications with you. You deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect, especially when dealing with a sensitive issue like wrongful death. If a lawyer isn’t acting with professionalism in these early communications, they likely aren’t worth your time.
An attorney should also be prompt in answering your communications. If there is an excessive delay in waiting to hear back from a law firm, it could indicate that they have a high caseload and don’t have adequate resources to direct to your case.
4. Find Out Who Will Be Representing You
Be wary of law firms that advertise with their star attorney only to send a less experienced team member to represent your case. This misleading form of advertising can set incorrect expectations for the assistance you’ll get with your case.
Find out in your early inquiries about who specifically will be representing you before you decide on whether or not to hire them. You want to ensure the professional you’ll have on your side throughout court proceedings has the experience necessary to assist you effectively. That will give you the best chance of a positive resolution to your wrongful death case.
5. Check Their Previous Track Record
Ask any attorney you’re considering hiring for examples of cases they tried in the past. You can also use local news sources and other records to learn about the attorney’s previous court experience.
Specific questions can help you figure out the type of assistance an attorney can offer you. Ask what insights the attorney has gained from past cases they’ve worked on that can help with your case in particular. You should also find out, based on the attorney’s past cases, what chance they believe your case has of reaching a positive resolution.
6. Take Financial Considerations Into Account
While you shouldn’t be so afraid to spend money that you end up with cheap, unreliable representation, the financial side of hiring a wrongful death lawyer can’t be ignored. You should be wary of any lawyer who overcharges for their services anyway, as they are unlikely to provide effective representation in the first place.
Find a lawyer who offers free consultations to assess your case risk-free. You should also find out when they intend to collect their fees. Finding an attorney who only gets paid when you do will ensure that you don’t end up with legal fees you can’t afford.
7. Hire from the Local Area
While you could look elsewhere to get the representation you need, you’re better off hiring a lawyer who works in your own area. A local lawyer lives off of their reputation in your area, so they’ll want to provide you with excellent representation to continue growing that reputation in a positive way. A local lawyer also has knowledge about laws specific to your area and how the local court system works.
It’s important to act promptly in your attempt to seek justice over the wrongful death of a loved one. Use the advice above to find the right attorney, then get in contact with them to begin the process of righting the wrong that occurred.
