Legal Problems Bogging You Down? Legal Help Is On The Way
Most people do not have much experience with attorneys, so if finding a good one becomes necessary they may not know where to begin. There are many good and honest lawyers available to represent you. The information in this article will help you know for sure you have found the right one.
Make sure to be familiar with a lawyer's history. The fact that a lawyer is practicing is no indication that he or she is successful or skilled. Be aware of their record so you can be sure they will do a good job.
A good tip if you're thinking about hiring a lawyer is to listen to your gut when it comes down to whether or not you're going to hire that person. Your lawyer is going to represent you in court, so if your lawyer seems unscrupulous, it's going to fall back on you.
Define your case before seeing a lawyer. The first thing to ask is whether you even need a lawyer. For example, divorce cases, criminal cases and financial cases usually require an attorney. Even if such areas are not affecting you directly, you might find other reasons to take advantage of a lawyer's knowledge.
Do not feel obligated to hire a lawyer because you met a few times and got some useful advice. You should sign a contract only after you agree on fees and feel comfortable with your lawyer. If you are hesitating because you have heard bad things about this lawyer or think the fees are too high, keep looking.
Try to match the firm that you choose with the seriousness of the situation that you are in. If you are in a serious bind, you will want to have a big firm by your side. If you are trying to beat a moving violation, you can get a lawyer that belongs to a smaller firm.
Wait to sign a contract with an attorney until you feel the situation is right. Request an estimate from the attorney so that you know approximately how many hours he or she intends on putting into the case. If the lawyer refuses, move on. A range is acceptable, but it is not fair if you have no idea what you are getting into.
If your lawyer does or says anything you don't understand, speak up. They should be more than happy to explain anything to you, from what a fee is for to a document they're having you sign. If your lawyer doesn't want to talk about anything related to your case, drop them immediately.
Talk to your attorney about jobs you can complete on your own. Maybe you could be of assistance in getting the paperwork ready for your court date. Also, inquire as to whether you can run certain errands for your case so that you aren't billed when someone else has to do them.
When it comes to working with a lawyer, consider your needs before your wants. While you may want an attractive, high profile lawyer who has won for big clients in the past, it's likely unattainable. If you need a lawyer who specializes in real estate, then that is who you choose.
Keep in mind that you will end up paying a lawyer for more than just the time they spend on your case. If applicable to your case, you may have to pay them for phone costs, traveling costs, and even costs to make copies. Take this into consideration when making a financial plan.
It is unwise to enter into an agreement with an attorney until you have a mutual understanding of the costs and fees. Lots of lawyers want retainers in order to simply review your matter. This will not go towards sessions but will only guarantee you that the lawyer will go over your case.
If you are getting a divorce, and the details do not involve child custody or complicated details, consider settling out of court. If the divorce is simple and nothing is being contested, an out of court agreement can be drawn up by an attorney. The agreement only needs to be finalized by a judge with no legal representation by either party required.
If you are getting a divorce, and the details do not involve child custody or complicated details, consider settling out of court. If the divorce is simple and nothing is being contested, an out of court agreement can be drawn up by an attorney. The agreement only needs to be finalized by a judge with no legal representation by either party required.
Learn where your lawyer got his or her law degree. You should not choose your lawyer only because of their education but this is an important factor. If your lawyer went to a good school, the coursework was probably challenging. This means the lawyer knows how to work hard. Good lawyers graduate from less recognizable schools too, which is why you should not base your decision entirely on your lawyer's education.
Talk to friends and family. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a lawyer. You get first hand information from someone who has been through the legal process with your potential attorney. Even if your friends or family have had a bad experience, that information is valuable so you don't here make the same mistake.
Don't arrive at the lawyer's door without some type of research. On the other hand, do not act like you know more about law then the lawyer. It may put him off, and he may not be willing to represent you well or at all. Lawyers are people too and want to feel respected.
Look for someone with a proven track record when hiring a qualified lawyer. Although someone fresh out of law school may be highly skilled and motivated, experience is vital to winning your case. Search public records and ask people you know for a lawyer that is well established in successfully maneuvering within the legal system.
You should be seeing what cases the lawyer has handled in the past. Just because a lawyer says his strengths are in a certain area does not make it true. Learn about what your lawyer has worked on and how well they have done on the cases. Never hire someone who specializes in a field other than that which your case falls into.
People use lawyers for many different reasons. When you find the right one, he or she can make your life a whole lot easier. Make sure you implement the tips and tricks mentioned in the article above when you are conducting a search for an attorney. It is one decision you need to make right.
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."