If you have experienced a car accident, a personal injury, medical malpractice or require workers' compensation, you will need to find a qualified local lawyer in Savannah. Many attorneys will typically offer a free initial consultation, which can help them to get more acquainted with the specifics of your case. You also can use this initial consultation to decide if the lawyer is a good fit for you. These initial meetings can reveal what the individual’s character will be like within a couple of minutes.
What to Look For
Does the lawyer you have chosen look you in the eyes when he speaks with you? Does he stare at the ground? Lawyers who can’t maintain eye contact will often have a problem telling the truth. Ask about the types of cases he or she has litigated, and determine what kind of cases they have worked the most. Find a Savannah lawyer who specializes in cases similar to yours — whether the case is DUI, criminal defense, medical malpractice, wrongful death, traffic accidents, workers’ compensation or product liability. Having a local lawyer you can trust is essential to any lawsuit.
Ask Your Lawyer About Their Success Rate
If your lawyer sounds unrealistically optimistic or doesn’t explain the risks and the costs that come with the case, then you might want to look for a lawyer elsewhere. He or she probably isn’t telling the whole truth. It is important to remain realistic when hearing these statistics. While finding a lawyer with a 100 percent success rate is unlikely, it’s important to find a Savannah lawyer with a sufficient success rate. Knowing these statistics can help you understand the law firm and the type of case they have presented.
Staying Connected throughout the Case
Call your Savannah law firm and ask if they are willing to accept phone calls throughout the case to learn of its status and to discuss any concerns. If they seem to dislike the suggestion, then you may want to hire someone else. Communication with the client is one of the most important aspects of the lawyer-client relationship. The Savannah lawyer should have no trouble with communicating his or her thoughts and providing feedback that you need. Ask about how involved you will be in the case, including your involvement in the actual hearing/trial.
What’s the Price Range
It’s a common misconception that more expensive lawyers will almost always be better, but that isn’t always the case. You should only pay for the services that you can afford. Ask your local lawyer about what the potential costs will be after the initial meeting. It would be disturbing to learn how your attorney charges you per hearing, per letter and other ways that will encourage them to drag out the case for as long as possible. Whenever you receive a quote, the costs should always be in writing. Don’t be afraid to ask the Savannah attorney to spell out the maximum costs that might come with your case.
Finding a Savannah lawyer that is a good fit for your case is one of the most important ways to help your case. In general, attorneys will insist on drawing up a contract from the outset because this helps avoid miscommunication with their clients later.