How to Choose a Slip and Fall Lawyer?
Have you recently had a slip and fall accident? These accidents are quite common and occur as a result of icy walkways, insecure ladders, slippery floors, uneven pavement, unsafe construction sites, etc. After sustaining a slip and fall injury, you are entitled to receive compensation for the injury you have sustained. The best person to assist you in gaining the expected compensation is a slip and fall lawyer.
If looking for a slip and fall lawyer, the tips below will help you choose the right one for your case.
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Look for word-of-mouth referrals
When choosing a slip and fall lawyer, the first tip to follow is to get word-of-mouth referrals. Word of mouth can be helpful in choosing a legal representative, as you probably have a friend, family member, or colleague who has experienced a similar situation to yours. Think of a person you know that has undergone a slip and fall accident in recent times and meet up with them to get some questions answered.
Make sure you gain valuable information related to the way in which the lawyer handled their case. For instance, find out whether the person received the desired money amount and if the attorney fought for their compensation tirelessly. It’s also essential to learn if the lawyer was easy to communicate with. Since word-of-mouth referrals usually come from individuals you consider close, they will keep your best interests at heart while providing you with recommendations.
How to choose a slip and fall lawyer: check online reviews
Apart from receiving word-of-mouth referrals, individuals looking for a slip and fall lawyer should also check online reviews. While most attorneys feature positive reviews on their websites, you should look for reviews on Google and Yelp, as these are considered more credible. Make sure to read as many reviews as possible of the slip and fall lawyers in your local area to understand their reputation.
Furthermore, create a list of potential attorneys and take note of their ratings based on the reviews you’ve read. A couple of negative reviews shouldn’t be viewed as a problem. Nevertheless, if the number of negative reviews is too high, it should be considered a red flag. Find out how to spot fake and useless reviews online.
Check their educational background and experience
The following aspects to consider when choosing a slip and fall lawyer are candidates’ educational background and legal experience. Typically, it’s crucial for every candidate to have a law degree and to have passed the state bar. Nevertheless, there are more important things than the law school they attended, such as their history of obtaining successful settlements.
When it comes to their legal experience, some slip-and-fall lawyers have been in practice for only a few years, whereas others have decades of experience. By hiring a less experienced attorney, you are likely to benefit from their enthusiasm. Such attorneys tend to devote more time to cases and are eager to prove their knowledge and expertise.
Experienced slip-and-fall attorneys usually have huge caseloads, making them unavailable to accept new cases. In most situations, they trust the issues to other members of their legal teams. On the positive side, experienced attorneys are likelier to have developed a positive relationship with insurance adjusters. Nevertheless, if planning to hire a professional legal representative, be prepared to wait longer and pay a higher price for their services.
Consider their resources and financial stability
Slip and fall cases can be surprisingly expensive and complicated to handle, particularly those that involve spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. The following link, https://medlineplus.gov/traumaticbraininjury.html, elaborates on the causes and symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Therefore, it’s paramount for your chosen attorney to have the financial stability to pay for the assistance of different experts to help them build your case.
On the same note, they need enough finances to pay expert witnesses, including actuarial accountants, medical specialists, forensic experts, etc. Although they’ll recoup these expenses after successful settlement negotiation, they must pay for the services of expert witnesses upfront.
Make sure to gather enough information about their resources by asking which experts they plan to involve in the case and how long they have collaborated with them. Unless a slip and fall attorney has the money to cover expert witnesses’ services, they won’t have the resources to handle your case successfully.
Schedule consultations with the most promising candidates
You should already have several candidates on your shortlist at this point in your journey. Hence, the next logical step is to schedule a free consultation with them. These consultations allow potential clients to learn more about the lawyers, their methods of practice, and handling cases.
The majority of slip and fall lawyers offer free consultations. It’s vital to bring any documentation related to the claim to the scheduled meeting. It would help if you also prepared for the talk by creating a list of questions and concerns. It’s essential to ask the lawyers whether they are board-certified, as board-certified attorneys must have a long record of courtroom experience.
Another essential information to collect is the number of slip and fall cases the attorney has handled in the past. If possible, choose a legal representative with extensive experience in slip and fall claims. You should also ask if the lawyers will notify you about the settlement offers provided by the insurance company. You have the right to be informed about these offers.
Moreover, the ideal slip and fall lawyer should be willing to take your case to court if necessary. If not receiving a fair offer for settlement, going to trial is the only option for obtaining the desired compensation. The attorney’s job is to protect your interests regardless of the circumstances.
How to Choose a Slip and Fall Lawyer? Final thoughts
Hiring legal representation is a must if hoping to win your claim. Choose your representative wisely!
