When you’re a pedestrian walking down the street in Hawaii you should be quite safe, but since we’re talking about one of the biggest tourist attractions, every now and then accidents happen. Just like anywhere else. Even though you may already be familiar with the procedure of claiming your rights in case of an accident, you should know there is no better option to make sure you claim your rights, than to hire a lawyer. But in the sea of so many lawyers in Hawaii, you want to find the one who can actually do the job. That’s why we have prepared some of the key things you need to know when searching for the best one.
There are some things that you should definitely pay attention to when you’re caught in a pedestrian accident and happen to need the help of a lawyer. To read more about how these things work in Hawaii, click here.
Believe it or not, there are tons of things considered very important to take care of, before hiring the right one to defend your case in court, so you won’t regret it later. So, here are 7 things to have in mind…
1. How qualified is he?
Already during the first conversation, you should find out what the qualifications of a particular lawyer are. Remember, the law itself is a very broad term, and here you want to find the one that specialized in personal injuries. Very often you can hear someone say that he is a lawyer, and let’s say he just finished his studies. Anyone who knows a little more knows that in order to acquire the title of lawyer, it is necessary to gain some experience, and only then to obtain a license to practice law independently.
2. Does he have a license?
When you are already facing a situation of being in an accident, the last thing you need is a bad lawyer. That is why it is considered completely normal and even desirable that you, as a potential client, ask to see his license, already at the first meeting. Lawyers who stick to their profession at all will have the certificates and diplomas they have obtained in a visible place, usually on the walls of their office. Of course, not to brag about them, but precisely because of the clients, so they can see who they came to as soon as they enter. In this way, you will avoid the somewhat unpleasant situation of having to look for certificates and licenses.
3. Expertise
Each qualified lawyer has his own expertise, that is, he specializes in a certain area. He can be an expert in one of the following categories of law: international law, labor law, civil law, tax law, litigation law, or criminal law. These are the main categories, and there are subcategories, one of which is personal injuries.
Just keep in mind that a lawyer becomes specialized in a certain area of law first by experience, that is, by having a large number of cases belonging to one of the categories.
4. Personal qualities
The personal qualities that should be on the priority list mostly depend on the client himself. Basically, the most important thing is for the lawyer to be, as people like to see, really. If you want an experienced one, you should keep in mind that they often don’t pay much attention to clients, in the sense that beginners do. Beginners mostly treat their clients like children, they are sympathetic and especially attentive to them.
That is why it is very important to decide whether you want to hire a professional and someone who has years of experience behind him, whose attitude you may not like, or someone who has no or very little experience and will be especially attentive to you and full of compassion.
5. Credibility
Credibility can refer to different spheres, not only to professional life. It can be improved by the stories of satisfied clients, for example, but it can also be damaged very quickly in the same way. It is enough for him to start talking about, for example, giving his legal advice, but not following it or charging more than any of his colleagues, not taking into account the obligations he has towards the client, etc.
Let’s face it, no lawyer can get and keep his clients without being professional and reliable.
6. Availability
So, now that you have found a determined, qualified, and reputable lawyer to work with, you should also check if he is trustworthy. The easiest way to check this is if it is always available to you, of course at a decent time during the day. Does he respond to your emails, messages, or calls as soon as possible? Does he respect the agreed deadlines? Of course, if his phone is unavailable for several days, and no one answers you in the office, it is advisable to think about someone else.
A real professional will take care of these things. Well, let’s say if he knows that his phone won’t be available for some reason, he will assign one of his colleagues to answer calls and the like.
7. Professionalism
A lawyer does not only take care of the work but also of the relationship with the client, as well as his physical appearance. It is very important that he is always properly dressed as well as mannered. It would be superfluous to explain what is meant by decent behavior. Simply, even with his appearance, a lawyer reveals whether he is really a professional or not. Although this last point may sound superficial, it can tell a lot about a person.
If you follow these guidelines we wrote in the article, you can be sure the person you elect to pursue your claim will do a good job. After all, you want to make sure all you are entitled to when in an accident is yours once the claim is settled.
