Like other states, California has provisions that allow victims of accidents resulting from the negligence of others to recover compensation for harm suffered. Even with the provisions, victims often have to demand compensation from that at-fault party or insurer through negotiations or by filing a lawsuit against them.
Involving a lawyer when making a claim makes a significant difference in the outcomes. The quality of your legal representation is also critical and depends on your choice of law firm. This guide highlights some aspects of a law firm that you may need to pay attention to before engaging one.
Experience and Focus Area
General experience is the years a law firm has been operational. The more years they have, the more your chances of getting quality legal representation from them. Besides general experience, you have to consider a law firm’s area of focus and go for a law firm that focuses on the type of case you are pursuing.
For example, if you are pursuing a defective product lawsuit, you want to choose a firm that focuses on defective product lawsuits. Established firms can have different departments focused on different areas of personal injury law, so you may want to consider all offerings before engaging.
Track Record and Reputation
After an accident \that results in life-altering injuries, the outcome of your personal injury claim can determine how the rest of your life turns out. A law firm’s track record and reputation can guide you on what to expect.
Consider settlements won for past clients in circumstances similar to yours. In most cases, law firms will display their best outcomes on their website. But you may need to look beyond their website for an unbiased picture. Online research is critical in determining a law firm’s track record and reputation.
Look for a law firm’s mentions, ratings, and reviews on independent sites and social media.
Financial Muscle
“Most California law firms charge a contingency fee on the settlement figure. This means the plaintiff is not required to pay if the law firm doesn’t win their case. It also means that the law firm needs to be adequately resourced to handle the expenses to ensure the most favorable outcomes,” says personal injury lawyer Walter T. Clark of the Walter Clark Legal Group.
These expenses include hiring expert witnesses, investigating the case, and facilitating eyewitnesses. With law firms handling several cases concurrently, these costs can be quite significant, and a poorly resourced firm may not allocate adequate resources to your case, which could mean poor results.
A firm’s audit report can give you a picture of their financial health. Also, firms that have been in operation for some time are more likely to have better financial health than newcomers.
Human Resource Allocation
A law firm’s human resources determines how much time it can allocate to your case. While a law firm may have many lawyers, the volume of the cases they handle will influence their effectiveness.
Visiting in person is the best way to determine that a law firm has adequate human resources.
Having too many clients waiting may suggest a shortage of staff. Additionally, the duration allocated for your consultation speaks volumes. If it’s less than 30 minutes, it could signify inadequate time for straightforward cases. For more intricate situations, such as medical malpractice, you shouldn’t receive less than an hour.
If they can allocate you sufficient time, they probably aren’t sufficiently resourced and may not allocate adequate time to your case.
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