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You suffered a severe personal injury and need a lawyer. How do you find the right lawyer? It’s a topic I’ve discussed in past posts. One piece of advice — Avoid the many attorneys you see smiling from billboards. Here are a few of my past posts on the topic of finding a personal injury lawyer:
For today’s post, I’ll assume you’ve decided on a lawyer. And, I’ll assume that lawyer is also willing to take your case. What is the next step? At this point, you will be asked to sign an agreement hiring the attorney. In a personal injury case, this typically means a contingency fee agreement. Contingency fee agreements are standard for injury cases. You certainly NEVER want to hire a lawyer in a risky personal injury case on an hourly fee basis. You also should NEVER be asked to pay for the initial personal injury consultation. That consultation should be both confidential and free.
I’ve been practicing personal injury trial work for over two decades. In recent years, I’ve seen a number of shady (or downright unethical) marketing tactics by attorneys. In Huntsville, one billboard firm even advertises for personal injury cases with the intention of referring them instead of preparing them. Face it, they want your case for the fee and NOT to help you. I think that’s wrong. I think this specific billboard firm should stop advertising for cases with the intention of referring them to other lawyers.
I recently attended a seminar with a speaker from the Alabama State Bar. He highlighted some very shady (and unethical) language a few bad lawyers have recently inserted into their attorney-client agreements. I was shocked to learn of these terms. Of course, the firms inserting these shady or unethical terms into their agreements were some of the very same firms engaged in shady or unethical advertising. That comes as no surprise. What are some of the shady or unethical fee agreement terms a few bad lawyers are putting into their agreements? You need to know so you can avoid these lawyers. They are:
If you need a personal injury attorney, it’s important you find an attorney who is skilled. It’s also important to find an attorney who will work for your interest. Attorneys should always put their client first. However, a few do not. If you are working through the legal process, ask questions. Your attorney should be happy to provide answers.
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At the Blackwell Law Firm, we believe in helping our clients. Our philosophy revolves around hard work and preparation. If you have specific legal questions, give us a call. Consultations are always free and confidential. We are happy to answer questions. We also encourage you to read our blog articles. We frequently address issues related to personal injury in Alabama.