If a loved one was killed due to someone else's actions or negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit against the person or persons who are responsible for your loved one's death. Wrongful death attorneys can help you with these cases. The best attorneys for wrongful death will schedule a consultation with you prior to taking on your case. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your case with an attorney and to ensure they are the right attorney for your case. Here are a few of the questions that you should ask during a consultation with wrongful death attorneys in Idaho Falls.
Do I Have a Compensable Case?
One of the first questions that you should ask if you are looking to hire a lawyer for a wrongful death claim is whether the attorney feels that you have a compensable case. In order to bring a wrongful death suit to the courts, you must be able to establish certain criteria, such as another party contributing to the death of your loved one. A great attorney will tell you whether they feel you legally have a case or not against the other party.
Do You Foresee Any Challenges With My Case?
Another important question to ask is whether the lawyer foresees any challenges, problems or delays with your case. If the individual who killed your loved one has been charged criminally for their actions, you may need to wait until the criminal trial reaches a resolution before you can proceed with a civil case. There may be other challenges involved, and a great lawyer should be able to tell you upfront what those challenges are and what, if anything, they can do to help minimize those challenges that your case may face.
What Makes You the Best Lawyer For the Case?
There are many wrongful death attorneys who can help you with a wrongful death case. As such, one of the questions that you should ask when you are looking to hire the best attorney for wrongful death cases is what makes the lawyer the best lawyer for your case. You want to carefully listen to the answer that they provide you and think about whether it resonates or speaks to you. Some lawyers may have amazing track records in wrongful death cases, while other lawyers may have had a loved one pass away and may have been in your shoes before. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but you want to listen to why the attorney feels they are the best for your case.
What Is Your History With Cases Like Mine?
As you seek to hire wrongful death attorneys, you always want to ask an attorney that you are having a consultation with what their history is with cases like yours. You want to find out how many wrongful death cases they have handled and how many of those cases they have won. You also want to find out what percentage of the cases that they won were settled or how many were taken to trial.
What Fees Do You Charge?
Anytime you are looking to hire an attorney, you always want to ask about the fees that an attorney charges. When it comes to wrongful death attorneys, most wrongful death attorneys take a percentage of the amount that you are awarded. Always ask what if they work on a contingency basis, what percentage of the award they receive, if there are many minimums or maximums to the amount that they can take, and what other fees, such as legal experts, you are responsible for paying for as well.
Will You Take My Case to Trial If Needed?
The final question that you should ask when you are looking to hire a wrongful death lawyer is whether they will take your case to trial or not. Some lawyers simply want to settle cases. They may not take cases to trial due to the length of time it takes to bring a case to trial and the high costs associated with bringing a case to trial. You always want to find out upfront if a lawyer will take your case to trial if needed.
If your loved one has passed away and someone is responsible for their death, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against them to help recover money for any medical expenses, final burial expenses, lost income and wages and the loss of companionship. Here at Smith, Wolf, Anderson & Wilkinson, we know that this is a challenging time in your life, but we want to help you recover any money you may legally be entitled to. If you are looking to hire the best attorneys for wrongful death in Idaho Falls, reach out to us to get legal help.