In today’s world, there are more lawyers than we could even begin to count. These lawyers do all sorts of things from personal injury cases to divorce settlements. As a victim of an asbestos disease, you will need an experienced lawyer to help you get the best possible compensation. Even though it will be easy to find a lawyer who will take your case, that doesn’t mean you should take the first lawyer that you find. Do not make these mistakes when looking for an asbestos lawyer.
Hiring a Friend
Do you have a fantastic neighbor who happens to be a lawyer? That doesn’t mean that the neighbor should be your asbestos lawyer (unless of course you are lucky enough to live next to one of the country’s most experienced lawyers for asbestos diseases)! Asbestos lawsuits are such a specific specialty that your lawyer friend is not likely to be of any help to you in the legal process. Do not hesitate though to ask for your friend’s help in finding a referral or evaluating lawyers with whom you consult.
Looking for a Lawyer Close to You
For many situations, it makes sense to choose a lawyer who lives in your local area. However, this is not the case with asbestos lawsuits. An asbestos lawyer must have significant experience trying asbestos lawsuits if you expect to get the best results in the fastest amount of time. Unless you are lucky enough to live in an area where there is an experienced asbestos lawyer, then your lawyer will likely live in another city or state. If your lawyer is located in another part of the country, this should not be a problem for you. The lawyer will come to you to do interviews, dispositions, and other procedures crucial to the litigation process.
Finding Lawyers Willing to Work for Low Fees
The phrase “you get what you pay for” also applies to lawyers. All asbestos lawyers will typically work on a contingency fee which means that they will take a hearty percentage of whatever reward you get. In asbestos disease lawsuits, the difference between a 40% and 50% contingency fee can be massive. However, don’t put too much faith in a lawyer who is willing to work for a small contingency fee. The asbestos lawyer must put a lot of work into your case as well as resources which the firm will pay for – like expert witnesses, medical tests, and research. If the asbestos lawyer is willing to work for a small contingency, then he/she probably isn’t going to invest much work or resources.
Choosing the Lawyer Who Makes the Best Promises
No lawyer can ever predict the outcome of your case – regardless of how cut-and-dry it seems. Do not trust asbestos lawyers who make you monetary promises. An experienced asbestos lawyer will instead analyze the details of your case and make estimates based on these factors.
Hiring the First Lawyer Who Takes Your Case
In some cases, you may need to hurry to file your asbestos lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out or you become too ill to make a claim. However, you should never let this urgency get in the way of you choosing the best asbestos lawyer. If you have a solid case, then there will likely be many asbestos lawyers willing to take your case. Spend some time consulting with various asbestos lawyers and choose the one with the most experience, the best win history, and with whom you feel most comfortable.
Picking Your Lawyer Based on TV Ads or the Phone Book
As flashy and convincing as those TV or phone book ads may seem, don’t let them persuade you when it comes to choosing your asbestos lawyer. There is no way that a TV or phone book ad can give you all the information you need in order to find the best possible asbestos lawyer.
Where Can You Find an Experienced Asbestos Lawyer?
Even though asbestos lawyers work in such a specific specialty, you still have many choices available to you. One of the best resources for finding an asbestos lawyer is the internet. With the internet, it is also very easy to find information about previous large settlements for asbestos claims. You can find out who represented these cases and then see if the lawyer is still practicing. If not, that lawyer can likely provide you with a referral to an experience lawyer.
There are many mesothelioma and asbestos disease websites which provide lists of lawyers who have experience with asbestos lawsuits. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a “mesothelioma firm” or “asbestos disease firm”. All legal firms will take on various types of cases. However, many firms will have a lawyer or several lawyers who have experience with asbestos lawsuits. These firms are your best bet in getting the best possible representation so you can get the compensation you are entitled to.