Do I need a lawyer at all?
If you, a family member, or someone close to you has been injured in some type of accident or suffered pain as a result of medical negligence, you are facing many problems. I am referring here to medical bills, prescription drugs, and loss of income due to having to stay in the hospital or at home to recover. Now an insurance company is ready to settle, but their business is about profit and not “let’s just compensate that poor guy.” Do you know how much is fair? But how much is fair to ask?
But the above example is relatively easy. Now, imagine a newborn child who has been seriously injured during cesarean delivery: a cut that was too deep damaged the baby. And a plastic surgeon appears only when the wound is already infected. All you can talk to is an innocent nurse. Imagine how distressing the situation is.
Do you think you can handle it on your own? Say, demand compensation from a hospital? I doubt it… Now, I hope you realize that you need a lawyer as soon as possible. But not just any lawyer. You need the one who… Who is kind and understanding? Wrong.
You need an experienced lawyer
Don’t choose a lawyer if he or she is just friendly. This is not enough. Someone in her circle can recommend a lawyer she has used before. Chances are the lawyer helped your friends with something else. You need an attorney who has worked on a case with circumstances similar to yours. And he has done it successfully, preferably not long ago.
You see, the legal system in the United States is the most complicated in the world. There are thousands of laws, rules and regulations. It is simply impossible for a lawyer to specialize in a broad subject. Many attorneys never step foot in court their entire career because they work in specific areas that are primarily advisory, and I’m not even talking about “not hiring a divorce attorney for a personal injury case.” This is obvious, I hope. I’m saying that even if the law firm you’re considering working with calls themselves a “personal injury law firm,” you should check to see if they have experience with what you need. For example, compensation for wrongful death can range from $100,000 to millions of dollars. It all depends on the law firm you hire, their expertise, experience, and the quality of investigation they provide for the case.
An “Internet Way” to Find the Right Lawyer
Be prepared to make a lot of phone calls. His main source of information is the Internet. Go to Google, search, for example, “negligence claim” or “defective products”, you get the idea. You should look for an authority in a particular area of personal injury law. This is someone widely known for being successful in lawsuits or providing valuable information related to accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other areas of tort law. Read what he or she writes. The best if the person has a blog where he can get much more information. That “authority lawyer” may not live in your area, but all the best lawyers know all the other best lawyers. This is a “secret” that I am sharing with you. Then simply contact that authoritative attorney by email or better call, briefly describe your problem and ask for a recommendation. That’s it, it works.
Another good place to look for a good attorney is the Martindale-Hubbell website which provides a handpicked directory of attorneys and tons of easy to understand legal information.
I do not recommend the Yellow Pages because it is paid advertising. You’ll see tons and tons seemingly suitable for your ads, but there’s no way around the hype.
A litmus test for the right lawyer
When you have completed your online search, you will have a short list of phone numbers for your local personal injury attorneys. Just call for an appointment. When you do this, describe your problem in one sentence. For example, “I work for an ABC chemical company and have just been diagnosed with skin cancer,” or “My son did not receive timely care while in a hospital.” I hope you get the idea.
Don’t expect the attorney to be readily available. The best lawyers are very busy, but you need the best, right? Be patient.
Now is the time for the litmus test. As I have already said, you should select attorneys for their expertise and experience in specific categories of cases. When you meet with your prospective attorney, he or she will know what to do right away. They won’t say something like “I’ll look into it” or “I’ll think about it and call you back” or “I’ll review the latest court decisions.”
The best attorney for you will tell you on the spot what documents are required, what investigation of the circumstances of your case will be conducted, and how long it will take to prepare to begin litigation.
