We all want the best possible outcome in our personal injury lawsuits, but sometimes we may be unaware of warning signs that might indicate fraud. If you are seeking a good lawyer for your claim, having a law firm review your case and make sure you are compensated fairly is often worth it. A good personal injury lawyer will be thorough as they review your medical records and get a sense of the state of your health before starting to work on your case.
One of the biggest red flags to look out for is an unusually high contingency fee or payment plan that requires you to pay a large percentage of the settlement amount upfront. If a lawyer or law firm does not have time for you, it should not charge you excessive fees, especially for work that is not being done very well in terms of taking care of your case. In addition, you want to avoid paying to have a defence attorney who may be trying to get rid of cases with no respect for their client. Get to know how you can tell if a lawyer is ripping you off.
1. The Fee Arrangement Is Too Expensive
It is important to be financially equipped for a personal injury claim. You need to know what it will cost you to resolve the matter and how much your lawyer can reasonably charge. If you do not understand your risk factor or need advice on what a reasonable legal fee could be, consult an experienced personal injury lawyer who can do a case review.
2. No One In The Firm Has Had Any Experience With Your Case
A lot of cases are settled without ever going to court. A great way for lawyers and law firms to make money is by starting with a lower offer on a case before you go through the court system. If the firm does not respect your claim, you should consider it a red flag. It is also important to remember that lawyers are just good at getting rid of cases and fixing them up to look like they were headed to trial all along.
3. The Firm Brings In An Excessive Number Of Partners And Associates For Each Client
A personal injury lawyer may bring on team members with little or no experience with your case and will charge more money for each person added. If you choose that firm, you need to be aware of the circumstances in which these people will be working on your case. In addition, they must be able to provide you with references to other cases that have been successful as a way to reassure you about their experience level in the industry.
4. The Firm Charges An Upfront Fee That Is Not Refundable
There are certain amounts of money that a plaintiff and their lawyer would normally pay to get started on the case. It is usually not unreasonable to expect a lawyer to pay for the initial consultation and research, so never be surprised to find out that these fees will not be refundable.
If you are overwhelmed by fees upfront and have no idea how a lawyer will work with your case, consider changing lawyers as soon as possible. You will have a better idea of what to expect from an attorney, and you can negotiate with them if they are giving you too much money upfront.
5. A Friend Or Family Member Recommended The Firm
In this case, you should ensure that the people who recommended the lawyer know what they are talking about. If you are satisfied with your experience at a law firm, you can contact someone else and refer them to the same lawyer. You will have to ask to see if anyone has had bad experiences with other people recommending this particular attorney. It is also important to always run these names and explain what happened through the Internet before making a final decision.
6. The Lawyer Charges More Than One Particular Kind Of Fee
A lawyer who knows their area of law will charge for different things differently based on what you have to pay for them. For example, if you are dealing with a personal injury claim, there may be a retainer fee, a monthly billing fee, and a contingency fee. These fees will almost always be broken down in your contract with the firm ahead of time. If you are paying a monthly invoice to pay for work that is not being done, you should try to contact the lawyer for clarification. Click here and let the professionals handle your case.
7. The Firm Has Questionable Credentials
It is important to check out the reputation of any organization offering you legal services. If these firms are trying to collect an outstanding debt or engage in any other type of behaviour that you think is unfair, report this behaviour immediately to the proper authorities to investigate what is going on. You should never have to deal with anything like this when trying to find help for your case.
8. The Lawyer Agrees To Take Your Case On Contingency
A good personal injury attorney should never take your case on contingency unless they want to be paid more as part of the agreement. A lawyer who pays their staff on commission and needs to make a certain amount of money each month will also tell you that they can guarantee you a certain percentage of your settlement amount up front. The only exception to this rule is if a lawyer has had training in an area of law that is not common, and they are doing additional work on your case without charging you additional fees.
9. The Lawyer Negotiates With The Insurance Company
You will want to avoid any representation where someone is negotiating a settlement with the insurance company in your case, as they are not legally allowed to do so. A good lawyer will go up against the insurance company on your behalf and take care of all of their needs. If a lawyer takes a percentage of your settlement but never even looks at the case or communications with you, it may be time to ask questions about why they are dealing with the other side rather than you.
Conclusion
All these red flags can help give you the answers you need when it comes to questions about whether a lawyer is worth hiring. You should keep these points in mind and avoid them at all costs. Remember, a good personal injury attorney always puts your best interests above your monetary gain.
