These days, consumers are inundated with lawyer advertisements. Billboards, television, internet, and even restaurant tables try to persuade their viewers to select their attorney. But when it comes to picking a lawyer to represent you, to speak and advocate for you in today’s complicated world, perhaps facing a business or corporation with substantial assets to defeat your claim, are those advertisements really the best way to select an attorney?
With our modern society filled with heavy machinery, complex manufacturing, robotics, 18 wheelers carrying goods and products nationwide, and hordes of cars, trucks, and motorcycles flying past each other at break-neck speeds, accidents invariably happen. An accident could be the result of negligence, defective products, or both. Corporate America, with mergers and acquisitions, along with a truly global economy, means companies too large to fail and bountiful assets that must be protected. If you or a family member suffers catastrophic injuries at work, on the job, or in an accident involving one of these large 18-wheelers, a commercial truck, or another car, do you want to select your attorney based upon an advertisement on a billboard?
Lawyers represent people in some of the most demanding times of their lives, whether the result of negligence or an accident involving life-changing permanent injury, paralysis, or death, or do to a divorce or child custody, or the death of a loved one, or discrimination at work. Are these times when you want someone you chose from a billboard advertisement to help you exert some control in a world which seems out of control?
The answer to all of these questions is a resounding “no.” When you are faced with these challenging legal issues, you must make an informed decision on who will be your lawyer, on who will advocate for you, on who will protect, pursue, and defend your rights.
How do you pick a lawyer?
Ask questions.
Ask your friends, family and coworkers for a recommendation.
Then, ask questions of your potential lawyer.
Have they handled a case like yours? How many times?
What were the results?
What is their experience with cases or matters like yours?
What is their philosophy in dealing with such cases?
What strategies do they typically use?
How is their fee calculated?
How long do these types of cases typically take?
How often do they provide you with updates? How do they provide you updates or status reports?
Who in their office will you be working with most?
You want a lawyer with actual experience in the courtroom and in a case like yours. You don’t want someone who spends most of their time and money on advertising.
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