A wrongful death leaves entire families both emotionally and financially harmed, prompting the need to bring a lawsuit in order to survive. Don’t feel bad about that. Your loved one’s death was caused by another person; if they acted negligently, you shouldn’t be the one paying up. While wrongful death cases seem straightforward on the surface (someone’s careless actions led to the death of your loved one), these cases are actually the most complex of all.
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Securing the services of the right Garden Grove wrongful death lawyers is imperative. This is the first step of many to getting the outcome you deserve. Heed these tips for hiring the best possible attorney.
Communication Means Everything
The best trait to look for in a wrongful death lawyer is the ability to communicate effectively. Without this, you will be lost and out of the loop during the entire process. A good lawyer will listen to you, share your concerns, allay your fears and answer all questions knowledgeably. If, when calling lawyers to vet them, you don’t get a call back quickly, move on to the next one because this is a good indicator of their responsiveness.
Look into Background
It’s always a good idea to do at least minimal research into the background of the lawyer you’re considering. When meeting for your free initial consult, ask plenty of questions to help you make your decision. Write them down before you go, such as:
- How many years have you been practicing personal injury law?
- How much of your practice is made up of wrongful death claims?
- What is your track record of verdicts and settlements?
- How many wrongful death cases do you represent annually?
- How many do you settle and how many go to trial?
- Do you frequently handle cases similar to mine?
- How many years have you been in business?
- Are you a member of any bar associations or professional organizations?
The answers you get to the above questions will assist you in making the most informed decision possible in hiring Garden Grove wrongful death lawyers to represent your family.
Experience
The lawyer you choose must be highly skilled and have lots of experience in handling wrongful death cases. A proven track record, tenacity and determination are all good qualities to have. The outcomes of wrongful death claims are much more likely to be successful with legal backing than not. That’s because the defendant (the negligent party) is typically a company or manufacturer that will bring their own powerhouse legal team to battle yours. They are acting in the best interests of their company, after all, and the goal is to save as much money as possible.
That money should be yours! A tenacious lawyer will make sure you’re not shorted any piece of that pie. That said, your lawyer must be skilled at clearly researching and presenting evidence that clearly and thoroughly proves the full extent of negligence by the at-fault party. Your lawyer will need to put on many different hats as he or she acts as private investigator, medical doctor and legal advisor. They should have a strong network of professionals that can help prove your case, from physicians to detectives to accident reconstructionists.
Inquire About Case Assessment
Once you have discussed the details of your case during your free initial consultation, ask the attorneys what their expert opinion of your case is.
- Can you provide an assessment of my case?
- What kind of financial settlement can my family realistically expect?
- What are some of the factors that work both in my favor and against me?
- Do you plan to go to trial or do you think arbitration or mediation is a better option?
- How long do you expect my case to take?
Beware of lawyers who give you a definitive timeline. Wrongful death cases are notorious for taking a long time. There are often many complexities involved, from manufacturers of defective products to extensive investigations into blame in a multi-car tragedy. No matter how good your lawyer is, answers to these questions can’t be told with any concrete certainty. This doesn’t mean your lawyer can’t provide you with estimates based on knowledge, past experience and nature of similar cases.
Contact Kuzyk Law
The aftermath and confusion of a wrongful death can be devastating but don’t let it cloud your better judgement of calling an attorney sooner rather than later. We are here for you whenever you need us. Call us for a free, no-obligation consultation at 661-945-6969 with our Garden Grove wrongful death lawyers. Kuzyk Law has been fighting wrongful death cases in the Garden Grove and Los Angeles areas since 1971.
