Wrongful Death Attorney - Factors That Should Play Into Your Choice

Few people ever imagine that they will be contacting a wrongful death attorney. It's not the type of decision you can ask your coworkers about, in most cases. They won't know anymore than you do about the field. But when someone you know and love has been killed as the result of someone else's negligence, they deserve to be held responsible in a court of law. In order to get to that point, you will need a good lawyer to fight for the deceased party. If you aren't sure how to find such a lawyer or what you should look for, here are some factors that should come into play when you make your choice.

Consultation

A good wrongful death attorney will always be willing to meet with prospective clients and hear about the case without charging them a fee for the consultation. This policy will allow you to visit several lawyers if you so wish, comparing and contrasting between them. Pay close attention during any such consultations. Find someone that you enjoy talking to and who seems eager and willing to take on the case, while being respectful and solemn about you recent loss. But beyond "bedside manner," you want to find a lawyer who is willing and able to fight for your rights in a courtroom.

Fees

A wrongful death attorney can be expensive if you don't take the time to do your comparisons. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to find someone who will work on a contingency basis. Where's the vote of confidence in a lawyer who only accepts payment up front? If they are demanding that, one of two things is true. One, they don't have a lot of faith in your case, or two, they don't have a lot of faith in their own skills. Either way, why would you shell out the money? There are plenty of good lawyers who will work off a percentage of the settlement. If you run into resistance from more than a few, you might want to step back and reevaluate whether or not you have a case.

Licenses and Experience

It goes without saying that you should make sure that your wrongful death attorney has all of the necessary licenses and education to practice law in your area. Go beyond that if you want to make sure you hire someone excellent in the field. Look into their experience. Ask them how long they've been practicing law and how long they've been working in this particular field. A lawyer doesn't work in a field for years without learning a few tricks. The more experience they have, the more likely they will be to offer excellent counsel.