Why Choose a Birth Injury Lawyer?
The process of choosing a lawyer can seem rather overwhelming and confusing, especially due to the fact that what has motivated your search is the fact that your child has been robbed of a normal childhood due to his or her birth injuries. How do families facing these types of issues choose the right attorney? How do parents find an ethical, qualified, and experienced attorney who has their child’s best interests at heart? How do they find someone who knows the ins and outs of birth injury cases and who can provide them with information and resources necessary to help them raise their special child?
People who fail to take all measures and precautions necessary to prevent birth injuries should be held fully accountable and brought to justice for their actions. To begin building your case, please call Stern Law, PLLC at (800) 462-5772 for free.
Obtaining referrals
When seeking legal services, the process of choosing a lawyer usually begins by obtaining a referral or recommendation to a lawyer who concentrates in the type of law required. Lawyer referrals can be obtained through the state bar association, a trusted lawyer, or through an organization familiar with the legal issue. An attorney who concentrates in birth injury litigation can be important when it comes to getting you everything that you deserve for your child.
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When Should A Parent Contact A Cerebral Palsy Attorney?
What to expect in an initial consultation
The first meeting between you and a lawyer is called an initial consultation. Each party interviews the other to determine whether they would like to work together on a case. Contracting a lawyer’s service is akin to forming a partnership of sorts as each of the parties has a vested interest in the matter.
You, as the client, must determine:
- Does the lawyer have the appropriate knowledge and experience to litigate your child’s case;
- Whether the benefits of pursuing Lifetime Benefits are worth the effort;
- Whether you feel comfortable with the lawyer.
The lawyer is evaluating:
- Whether he feels the case has merit;
- Whether his firm has the resources necessary to pursue the case at that time;
- Whether there are any conflicts of interest in representing you;
- Whether he feels comfortable with the potential client relationship.
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Why Is It Important To Hire A Birth Injury Lawyer?
While the initial consultation is often free of charge, exceptions do exist. When scheduling an appointment, you should inquire about fees. Lawyers have different fee structures for initial consultations, ranging from a free of charge to a discounted hourly rate or a set fee. In addition to inquiring about cost, the client may also wish to ask about expectations for the initial consultation. Stern Law, PLLC offers free initial consultations, as we believe this is the right thing to do.
The purpose of an initial consultation
The main purpose of the initial consultation is for the lawyer to assess whether he or she feels the case has merit to pursue Lifetime Benefits through litigation. The lawyer also will ascertain whether the law firm has the appropriate resources available to litigate the case. Both you and the lawyer will evaluate the potential relationship for trust and competency. Important elements to establish include:
- Communication process;
- Timetable expectations;
- Litigation process;
- Fee structure;
- Payment options;
- Expense responsibility.
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How Do You Pursue A Birth Injury Case?
In the initial meeting, you will provide the lawyer with a broad overview of the case. This is the opportunity to tell your story and find an attorney who will fight along with you to restore the egregious wrong doing to your child. The inquiry will focus on the mother’s health before, during, and after the pregnancy, the baby’s health, and medical records from the pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as general health care. These elements assist the lawyer in determining merit and potential to successfully litigate the potential case.
Fee structure
Legal fees and cost structures should be agreed upon in writing before legal services are provided. Birth injury cases typically operate on a contingency basis, meaning the law firm receives a portion of the final judgment instead of requiring the client to pay fees during the process.
Stern Law, PLLC generally offers contingency fee agreements to clients, as parents facing the devastating consequences of a birth injury and managing the special needs of their child often are unable to afford other fee structures. Court costs and other additional expenses of the legal action usually must be paid by the client. The percentage fee will be computed before or after expenses are deducted from the recovery in accordance with state laws.
Other lawyers may charge an hourly rate for their services. It is paramount that you know what additional fees you may be responsible for throughout the process, as well as when and how they are to be paid upon settlement or award.
To schedule your initial consultation, please call Stern Law, PLLC at (800) 462-5772 today. Our birth injury law firm is pleased to offer a complimentary review of your case.
