Finding the Right Wrongful Death Attorney
While filing a wrongful death lawsuit can be beneficial for many reasons, selecting the right attorney is critical. The choice you make can improve or jeopardize your family’s chances of making a successful recovery.
Before committing to a lawyer, you may want to consider the following:
How Much Experience Do They Have?
Wrongful death claims often have high stakes. Since the defendant and their insurance company may stand to lose a significant amount of money, they will typically do everything in their power to devalue your potential damages. You should only consider hiring an attorney who has extensive experience not only in wrongful death claims but the specific subset of claims most relevant to your case. For example, if your family member died in a motorcycle crash, your attorney should be knowledgeable about both wrongful death law and motor vehicle law.
Do They Have Enough Time to Give Your Case the Attention It Deserves?
Hiring a big-name firm with a massive marketing budget is not always the best move. While a large law firm could offer more resources, your case may not be the office’s top priority, preventing you from getting the representation you deserve.
What Are Their Results?
Lawyers get a lot of business from referrals. However, while many people might know a good car crash attorney or an advocate who knows how to win a slip-and-fall lawsuit, your family and friends might not know who to speak to about a wrongful death claim. If you do not already know a reputed wrongful death attorney, use the internet to your advantage, focusing on client testimonials, settlements, and other indicators of a successful, compassionate professional.
Unlike attorneys who practice in other forms of law, wrongful death attorneys routinely offer free consultations. If you find a firm that seems well-equipped to handle your case, schedule an appointment and talk to the people there before making a decision.
What to Ask Your Wrongful Death Attorney
A consultation serves several critical purposes. Not only does this initial meeting help the attorney assess your case, but it provides an opportunity for you to ask questions that can help you make a decision before hiring your attorney:
- How long have you practiced wrongful death law?
- Why do you represent wrongful death clients?
- How will you prepare for my case?
- What sort of evidence do you think you will need to establish liability?
- Who is going to work on my case—a senior lawyer or an associate attorney?
- Do you typically settle cases out of court, or are you willing to take my claim to trial if the defendant is not willing to negotiate in good faith?
- Do you accept new cases on a contingency fee basis?
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