Finding The Attorney To Best Represent You
A lot of people think that you don't need a lawyer when you're preparing to sign a contract. However, that is not the case. The reason that lawyers are so expensive is that they can protect you from entering into a contract that could end up cheating you. They are there to safeguard your interests.
Do not hire a lawyer until you know more about their experience and their results. A young lawyer might be more affordable but you will definitely benefit from hiring a more experienced and more successful lawyer. If possible, try finding a lawyer who has positive experience with very similar cases.
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.
When you are hiring a lawyer, make sure that there is a discussion about the payment plan that you want to instill. Sometimes, you may not have all of the money upfront, so you will want to workout a monthly plan that suits you comfortably. Get this done ahead of time so you don't have to worry about it later.
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.
It is hugely important that you know exactly what your lawyer plans to do for you. They should lay it out in writing, preferably, before you sign on the dotted line. If they get you to sign a legal document they have drafted without explaining it, run the other way.
A good tip to remember when hiring a lawyer is to keep track of all the bills pertaining to your lawyer. You don't want to be caught off guard when it comes time to paying for everything. You can also consult with your lawyer if there's something that doesn't add up.
You can succeed when you and your lawyer have a good relationship. Do not expect to develop a good relationship if your lawyer does not really make you feel comfortable. Your gut is truly the best judge of character.
When looking for a lawyer, time is significant. However, it is not so important that you hire the first lawyer you meet. Always consider more than one lawyer. You need to make sure they have the skills you need, that you can afford them, and they will fight for your best interests.
If your lawyer has a busy schedule, your case may end up costing more to complete. That's because it will end up dragging on as they tend to all of their other clients. Try to select a lawyer who isn't running around like a chicken with their head cut off!
Take your time when looking for a lawyer. You may be tempted to hire the first one you talk to, but this is not a good idea. You need to shop around for a lawyer the same way that you would for a car. Only then can you decide which attorney is a good fit for you.
As you go about researching and selecting a lawyer; consider soliciting the opinions and experiences of friends and family members that have encountered legal needs similar to yours. By consulting with someone you trust and who has gone through the same sort of situation in which you find yourself, you are far more likely to identify a legal practitioner who is suited to your specific needs and interpersonal style.
Try searching online for a lawyer. While there are many industry resources for finding a lawyer, search engines are great for jump-starting your search. You can use them to quickly find local lawyers too. There are also many search engines out there that are specifically made for finding lawyers. Some can click here narrow down your search to lawyers within certain zip codes and states.
How does your lawyers office look? Do things look organized? Is their desk a messy pile of paperwork? Have they hung up their coat in an orderly manner? Remember that you will be billed for the time your lawyer must spend locating your documents.
While you may believe that paying more leads to greater quality, it does not. You are paying for the time of the lawyer, and their skill level does not necessarily equate to their pay rate. In the end, it is the amount of time they spend on your case which inflates your bill, not their experience.
Find out what the fess will be early. You can ask this over the phone. Then you can rule out some potential lawyers if the fee is beyond your budget. This will make your search more streamlined. If the fees sound reasonable, still shop around for others, who may have more competitive rates.
Always be communicative with your lawyer. Do they listen to you? Ensure he is answering your questions. Is there two-way communication? Does the lawyer listen, or just speak? These things are important. If you do not feel comfortable talking with your lawyer, you should seek out a new one.
If you're engaged in a divorce which boils down to a Facebook affair, you need to hire a lawyer that understands Facebook and adultery. The more specialized the lawyer you choose, the more likely they are to be able to easily and efficiently handle your case, giving you a win and a lower bill, too.
Before choosing an attorney, you have to consider how much time and money you are willing to spend. You need to think about the income that will be lost as well through time away from your duties. You should carefully research all your lawyer costs. You would surely hate to spend thousands on a case that really involved a much smaller amount.
Surely you feel much better now about finding the right lawyer for your needs. It's important that you use these tips you've learned so that you don't have to worry about making a bad decision. Keep what you've read in mind, and find the lawyer that is going to bring you back home with a "win."
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."