Tips For Hiring The Right Wrongful Death Attorney

The death of a loved one is never an easy thing to deal with, but the grieving process can be even more difficult when the death was caused by malice or negligence on the part of another party. In these types of situations, it is in your best interest to hire an experienced wrongful death attorney. While there may be a criminal investigation is another party caused the death of your loved one, a wrongful death case is a civil court matter. Use the following tips to hire the right wrongful death attorney.

Schedule a Few Different Consultations

Most wrongful death attorneys offer prospective clients a free consultation, and this is something that you should take advantage of. It is in your best interest to schedule consultations with a few wrongful death attorneys in your area so you can discuss your case and get each attorneys opinion on the case as well as a rough estimate of what type of settlements people have received in similar cases. 

Consider Experience

In most cases, experience matters in wrongful death cases. It is a good idea to ask an attorney how long he or she has specialized in wrongful death cases, and what kind of track record he or she has had in the last few cases handled. It is also a good idea to find a lawyer who is very experienced in your type of case-- if your loved one died as a result of medical malpractice, it is not in your best interest to hire a wrongful death attorney who mainly focuses on automobile accident wrongful death cases.

Be Clear About the Fees

Wrongful death attorneys typically charge for their services in a different way than other types of attorneys. In the majority of cases, no retainer is required, and your attorney will not charge by the hour. In fact, you should not expect to pay anything out of pocket for the services of a wrongful death attorney. However, wrongful death attorneys are compensated by receiving a percentage of your settlement from the case. Make sure you know exactly what percentage of the settlement an attorney charges before signing a contract.

Ask Exactly Who Will Be Handling Your Case

In some wrongful death law firms, a senior partner will meet with potential new clients during the initial consultation, but the case is actually assigned to a junior associate. Before deciding which attorney to hire, make sure to ask exactly who will be handling your case. 

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