Finding The Attorney To Best Represent You
When it comes to hiring a lawyer, cost can be a huge issue. Often times, people believe that the more a lawyer costs, the better he or she is equipped to handle your case. This simply isn't true. Use the following article to help you find a reputable and hard working lawyer that won't break the bank.
Try to educate yourself on what you are dealing with. You should not be relying solely on the lawyer to plan and construct your case. Obviously, they will have more knowledge and experience dealing with your situation, but if you are prepared, you can work together as a team to get the win.
Never hesitate to ask your lawyer about any part of the fees you do not understand. There are many people that have issues with the fees they are charged by an attorney, but many of them do not say anything. There is a chance that you can do some of the work yourself and save a little, so make sure to ask about that.
Don't accept the very first lawyer in the phone book. You have to check out many lawyers to know what is available. Make sure to thoroughly research your options before choosing a lawyer. Do some research on the professional they recommend.
If you notice that the lawyer you chose is not doing the job that you were expecting, do not be afraid to fire them. This is the person that you are paying your money for, so at any point you can cut ties. If you are facing a legal matter, you only want the best on your side.
Most attorneys charge for their services by the hour, but hiring one with a lower hourly rates does not mean your total cost will be less. If your lawyer needs two hours to complete a job that some other lawyer can complete in an hour, you will pay more in the long run.
Your case may be put off by a lawyer if he or she is too busy with other cases. Therefore, don't hesitate to ask your lawyer if they can put in an adequate amount of time into your case. Their honesty is key in being able to choose the right candidate.
You should know what you can spend. Although you may be extremely confident you will win, you can't know for certain whether you will or not. Also, even if you did win, how much will it cost you? Check out the fee structure being offered by each lawyer. Discuss your budget and your expectations before signing an agreement. A clear understanding of the financial aspects of choosing a lawyer is important to your case.
Don't pick a lawyer based on an advertisement. You may be interested in someone that goes by "Justice Man" or "Strongarm," but those personas are just to get your attention and your money. Many of these lawyers are compensating for their lack of professional skills. It's always best to do some research on any lawyer before you choose one, and to avoid relying on billboards, radio, magazine and television ads.
Avoid lawyers who actively seek your business. Consider it a red flag if a lawyer solicits you after an accident without you having expressed any interest. These "ambulance chasers" tend to have sketchy business ethics, so it is best to steer clear of them. A good lawyer will have clients seeking their help, and doesn't need to resort to this type of behavior.
Check the desk of the lawyer if you are going in for a consultation. Make sure that he is neat, well-organized and clean. Also, notice his speech when you have a conversation with him. These are very good indicators of how professional he is, and how well he will present your case in court.
Choosing a lawyer who is greatly experienced in cases like yours will end up lowering your bill, even if their hourly rate is higher. How? They will spend many less hours than their unexperienced counterparts and yet provide you with the same level of service and potentially better results in the end.
Do not select the first lawyer you see in the yellow pages or directory search. Find a lawyer that fits your needs and is right for your claim. Avoid ambulance chasers. They do not have your best interests in mind and are not concerned with winning the case for your needs.
You will never find a lawyer who is selling you positive results. If you do, they're lying. You need to look for a lawyer who doesn't stay in the office day and night as this is truly a guarantee that they know what they're doing and will do a great job.
Remember that you are not the only client of your lawyer. While you may think you should control their time as your case is hugely important and you're paying their salary, think again. The lawyer has to divide their time between all of their clients, so give them a break.
If the problem is money, look into getting legal aid. There are some lawyers who will represent you "pro bono." These attorneys volunteer a bit of time to assist the public. Check the white pages to locate an office for legal aid in your area.
Unfortunately, lawyers are rarely cheap. When you don't have a flat fee agreement, you have to control spending. You've got every right to know exactly how your money is being spend so that you can adequately monitor your funds.
Get a list of all of the costs in writing that your lawyer charges for website before signing a contract with him. Knowing the costs in advance helps you to create a budget and gives you an idea of the total possible cost of the case. A written list also prevents nasty billing surprises!
When buying or selling a house or car, it is important to have a real estate agent look over the contract to be sure you're not getting into something which could be legally regrettable. You won't understand all the legal mumbo jumbo, but they will, saving you trouble down the road.
Finding a lawyer isn't all that difficult. Finding a good lawyer who doesn't cost an arm and a leg is a whole different ballgame. Make sure that you use the tips and tricks mentioned in the article above to help you with your search for a quality lawyer that doesn't cost too much money.
Auto insurers play hardball in minor-crash claims
Profitable strategy
The cases, CNN found, illustrate a carefully developed strategy to make the victims look like they are trying to defraud the insurers.
But documents CNN obtained indicate profit, not fraud, is the reason companies decided to play hardball in small accidents.
For Allstate and State Farm, according to documents obtained by CNN, the strategy was developed in the mid-1990s with the assistance of consulting giant McKinsey & Co.
Looking for a way to boost profits, McKinsey focused on soft-tissue injuries incurred in minor crashes.
While the McKinsey documents -- numbered in the thousands -- are under seal in courts around the country, CNN saw several of them during a court hearing in Lexington, Kentucky.
Playing off Allstate's signature slogan, one document recommends the insurer put boxing gloves on its "good hands" for those who insist on going to court.
The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee Jim Mathis, relies on the three D's -- denying a claim, delaying settlement of the claim and defending against the claim in court.
"The profits are good, and as long as the community, the public allows this to occur, the insurance companies will get richer and people ... will not get a fair and reasonable settlement," Mathis said.
Both Allstate and State Farm declined requests for interviews.
In an e-mail, Allstate wrote it did not believe it would "have any real opportunity of being successful in getting you (CNN) to do a balanced report."
State Farm wrote: "We take customer service seriously and seek to pay what we owe, promptly, courteously and efficiently, and we handle each claim on its own merits."
The company also said, "Any attempt to generalize that State Farm adopted consultant recommendations as other insurers is just plain wrong."
A company spokesman sent an additional e-mail, saying that the company did work with McKinsey to improve claims handling but State Farm stopped using the McKinsey program in 1999.
Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told CNN insurers do not have a strategy of blanket denial of claims. He also said strategies to limit expenditures on minor-impact crashes are needed to fight fraud.
Hartwig specifically singled out lawyers who he claims make a living on car accident victims, saying those lawyers are upset because "the gravy train is over."