Choosing the correct lawyer can be a gruelling process and is one of the more important decisions that you will ever make . Many people find themselves searching for a personal injury attorney after some sort of catastrophic incident, whether that is because of medical malpractice or as the result of a vehicle accident. Many personal injury cases come with the opportunity to receive a settlement that can go along ways for righting a wrong or simply giving a victim the ability to afford the care that they now need. Unfortunately, this path to justice is never an easy one, and this is why an experienced attorney is requisite.
Despite the fact that a person has suffered a great loss, and they acknowledge their injuries, insurance companies and employerers often consider the injured party’s compensation to be their money, and insurers are not going to part with it easily. Insurance adjusters will stop at nothing to keep that money, even if it means confusing the facts, discrediting your character or outright obstruction . Because of this, hiring a personal injury attorney can be one of thehardest and most important decisions of your life.
Because the need for an attorney comes from an unexpected event, most people are not prepared to go about the selection process. Often, victims are recovering or suffering from severe injuries or have too much of an emotional interest in the situation and consequentially, make irrational hiring decisions. In an plan of attack to better inform potential clients, here are ten of the most common mistakes people make when hiring an attorney for the first time.
The All Business Website, a D&B Company, listed 10 reasons, a few of which bear repeating.
1. Client does not discuss fees in advance.
Potential clients often fail to discuss fee structures ahead of time and this results in confusion and consternation regarding up front costs and compensation percentages . Never fail to discuss the compensation plan with an attorney upfront.
2. Client mistakes compassion for competence .
With so many emotions involved in the hiring of a lawyer and the personal nature of personal injury cases, it’s no surprise that many attorneys are compassionate to the emotions and situations facing their clients . This can be dangerous for clients whenever they fail to discern between a lawyer that is compassionate or kind to their case and an attorney who knows how to balance this compassion with competence. Always find an attorney who knows how to emotion and logic. Compassion will NOT win a case .
3. Client does not discuss the attorenys workload before entering into an agreement .
Unfortunately, some attorneys will take a case knowing they don’t have the time or resources to adequately move forward with the case. Always make sure to discuss which lawyer will actually be trying the case, because sometimes it can get passed along from the experienced attorneys in the firm to the recent graduate that may not amply understand the intricacies of the case at hand.
4. Client loses control of the case.
Often times clients will hand over their case not knowing what their involvement will be in the case moving forward . If you would like to be highly involved with your case, you must make sure that this is something the lawyer will allow and be comfortable with.
5. Client becomes uncomfortable with the lawyer’s style.
Seasoned attorneys cultivate a personal style after their years in the profession . It is important for potential clients to be certain that the attorney’s style is compatible with their vision for their case . Trying to change an attorneys style mid case will virtually never end well for either party.
6. Female clients are intimidated.
In Marilyn Barrett’s book “The 10 Biggest Legal Mistakes Women Can Avoid” (Page 123), she writes that female clients tend to be intimidated by male attorneys and judges as well as the courtroom in general. Barrett hypothesizes that this is because females , on average, are more reluctant than men to generate legal costs. A client who is not determined will easily cave to attorney pressure-and may forget their lawsuit entirely .
The Texas personal injury attorneys at the Rasansky Law Firm would like to add four of its own observations to the list.
7. Client doesn’t review the lawyer’s experience or area of expertise
An experienced attorney may or may not have experience in particular practice areas of law .Never take a chance. Choose an attorney who has specific experience and proven themselves competent with your type of case .
8. Client makes their decision soley by referrals from others.
Many potential clients fall into the trap of relying on the referrals of friends and families without doing the research on their own. Referrals should only be used as a reference point because the person that referred you may have had a completely different situation than what you are facing, and because of that, their input may not apply .
9. Client chooses the first lawyer who shows interest .
Do not just choose the first lawyer who shows interest in your case . Inevetibly, if one attorney is willing to represent you , then there are several other that would also represent you. Do your due dilligence and get second and third opinions and you will make a more educated decision.
10. Client relies soley on email and phone calls .
It is commonplace for many people to contact and hire a law firm directly through email, without ever contacting the attorney by telephone or in person. though email may be a good starting point for some, do not hire an attorney without at least speaking on the phone. It can only help both parties to make the correct decision.
Use this list when seeking a personal injury attorney, and you are sure to make a more educated choice . Choosing the wrong attorney can only cause an already stressful situation to become even worse . Contact the Rasansky Law Firm at 1-800-ATTORNEY and talk to an experienced lawyer about your personal injury lawsuit.
Comments on this entry are closed.