Car accidents are the most common cause of wrongful deaths, but these incidents can also occur from work accidents, medical malpractice, and defective products.
So, who do you hire in this situation for legal help? A car accident lawyer? A medical malpractice attorney?
The best way to go about a wrongful death case is by hiring wrongful death lawyers. To ensure you get the justice you deserve, consider these factors before hiring an attorney to take on your case:
1. Experience
Hiring wrongful death lawyers can help you win your case if they have the proper experience. When it comes to personal injury, there are a lot of attorneys available to hire.
However, not every attorney will have specific experience with a wrongful death case. In addition, every wrongful death case is different so the more experience, the better.
A lawyer that is well-versed in the type of case that you are pursuing can allocate their time and services effectively. Find an attorney that specializes in this area of law for the best results.
2. References and Reviews
A lawyer with the right certifications and experience seems great on paper, but if they don’t provide results, hiring them won’t be beneficial.
To decide if a lawyer provides good services, take the time to research them. Find reviews online from previous clients to get their perspectives.
It’s also beneficial to ask someone you know who went through a similar case experience for recommendations. Personal connections are more trustworthy than online reviews.
If reviews and personal recommendations aren’t available, consider asking different lawyers for referrals. To ensure that this is random, ask for a referral from someone with a certain letter at the beginning of their name.
Contact the referrals you get and ask questions to get an in-depth idea of the services that a lawyer provides.
3. Cost
There are a lot of things more important than the cost of a lawyer when it comes to a wrongful death case. Although you want someone with experience and glowing reviews, it’s still important that you can afford them.
You can decide what your budget is beforehand, then ask lawyers you are interested in for a quote. Comparing lawyer fees will give you the best idea of what attorney is within your price range.
If you win a wrongful death case, you might receive compensation that can help your financial status. Because of this, some lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
This means that a lawyer will take a percentage of your winnings as payment. If the case does not win, the lawyer is not compensated.
Keep in mind that every attorney differs in how they charge their clients. During a consultation with a lawyer, discover how they expect to be paid for services to ensure the plan aligns with your financial situation.
4. Comfort
One of the most important factors to consider when hiring wrongful death lawyers is your level of comfort. Wrongful death cases are just as complicated as they are emotional.
Not many people realize that the dynamic between them and a lawyer will impact the case. If you don’t trust a lawyer with the important details, don’t hire them and seek services elsewhere.
For example, some people find it hard to communicate their wants and needs with someone they aren’t comfortable with. You may also find that their work ethic is not compatible with your case requirements.
If you run into these situations, don’t get discouraged. You can find a lawyer with experience that you are comfortable with by going to various consultations.
Simply talking to your lawyer about the details of your case can help you decide if they are the person for the job.
5. Communication
Communication and comfort go hand in hand. If you aren’t comfortable with your lawyer, you aren’t going to be able to communicate freely with them.
Facing a wrongful death experience causes emotional vulnerability that only some lawyers are equipped to handle.
Not only do you want a lawyer that can communicate with empathy, but you want to make sure you are comfortable with their preferred method of communication.
Ask an attorney how they want you to communicate with them. When you have a question or want an update on your case, you need to know that you can reach them.
6. Network
A wrongful death lawyer with a solid network of professionals has a better chance of winning your case.
Building a case for wrongful death involves a lot of moving parts. Lawyers should have the resources available to build a team of experts that can work on your case.
Ask an attorney if they regularly work with experts and how those experts can be beneficial to your specific case. For example, if you need expert testimony for your case, a lawyer might already know the person to reach out to.
7. Litigation Experience
Taking cases to trial is not common for all personal injury cases, but wrongful death suits often lead to court appearances. Most states require a wrongful death case to be filed through the courts.
Not all personal injury lawyers have experience going to court because a lot of their cases may settle outside of courtrooms.
Settling outside of court can lead to insurance companies trying to take advantage of your wrongful death experience. Insurance adjusters try to settle with the least amount of money possible, even if your case is worth more.
Going to court opens up the possibility of receiving more compensation. At the very least, you’ll have a better chance of getting what your case is valued at.
If you are only seeking a settlement for your case, consider an attorney with a history of taking settlements.
8. Track Record
The outcomes of cases are sometimes due to the lawyer’s abilities, but may also be outside of their control. Despite this, it’s still important to get an idea of an attorney’s track record.
You can ask a lawyer about their track record regarding wrongful death-specific cases. You can also use the references and referrals you found to get an idea of a lawyer’s success rate.
Hiring Wrongful Death Lawyers for Your Case
If someone’s negligence caused wrongful death, you can receive compensation for your loss. Navigating a wrongful death case alone is complicated and opens up the possibility of insurance companies taking advantage of your situation.
Hiring wrongful death lawyers can help you through your case to ensure your best interests are at the forefront. Contact us today to request a case consultation.