Accidental death can devastate an entire family, both emotionally and financially. On top of overcoming the grief you feel after losing a loved one, you’re now facing a mountain of debt, funeral costs missed wages, and medical bills. This is when hiring a wrongful death attorney can drastically improve your financial situation.
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When someone dies as a result of the negligence of another, a wrongful death lawsuit can give restitution to you and other surviving family members. But first, you need to hire the most qualified Agoura Hills wrongful death attorney to represent you. This may sound easier said than done.
It’s never a good idea to hire an attorney out of haste; instead, take some time to research a few lawyers in your area and ask them targeted questions. Here are some of the most important questions you should ask a wrongful death attorney before making a decision.
How Much Experience Do You Have in Wrongful Death Cases?
While many attorneys practice under the umbrella of personal injury law, not all of them have extensive experience in wrongful death cases in particular. This happens to be a very complicated area of the law, so it’s in your best interest to hire someone who has many years of experience with this branch.
Ask any attorneys you interview how many wrongful death cases they have personally handled. Are they devoted to this area of the law? How many successes have they had? Experience means they likely have the ability to evaluate your case and understand which approach has the best likelihood of garnering a successful settlement.
Partnering with an experienced lawyer also means they have the skills necessary to negotiate a settlement or fight for your rights in court.
How Long Will My Case Take?
No one can predict this with any accuracy, even lawyers who have been through many of these cases before. Their experience allows them to give you an estimate, of course, but an exact timeline can’t always be determined. There are many factors that play into a case like this, with any number of delays occurring. The timeline will depend on the details of the case, how easy or difficult it is to prove, how many witnesses and parties are involved, and more. Take this opportunity to ask them what kind of caseload they’re currently handling, which will give you a better idea of how much time they will have to fully devote themselves to your case.
Do You Think I Have a Case?
After hearing the details of your claim during your initial consultation, Agoura Hills wrongful death attorneys can tell you what they think about your case. Without giving definitive answers about the outcome, they can let you know if your case is valid and worthy of moving forward.
Ask them what works for you and what works against you, and whether they feel those details could pose an advantage or a problem in the case.
Ask what kind of monetary settlement they feel you could get, which will signal to you whether it makes sense to proceed.
Who Will Be Working on My Case?
Many large law firms have many attorneys, paralegals, and support staff working for them. Just because a particular attorney conducted your initial consultation, doesn’t mean he or she will be the one assigned to your case. Make it clear which attorney will be the lead attorney on the case, as well as which paralegals and associates will be helping with the workload.
Get the contact information for the lead attorneys and ask what the best number is to reach them if you have questions.
What is Your Typical Approach?
Wrongful death cases are very complicated, often involving defective products, negligence, or medical malpractice. How your wrongful death attorney tackles your case can make or break the outcome. Generally, you want someone who will be aggressive enough to secure the outcome you want, yet at the same time have the finesse of a master negotiator.
Remember that their approach may not necessarily align with your own personal feelings toward the case. Ask them to explain their approach in detail without letting your emotions get in the way of considering other strategies.
Contact The Wrongful Death Attorneys At Kuzyk Law Today For A Free Consultation
We provide experienced wrongful death and personal injury representation, so contact our team today at 661-945-6969 for a free consultation.