You have lost a loved one, and while you might not instantly think of a lawsuit, you may find yourself in need when you are covering the financial burden of that loss.
Finding a wrongful death attorney in your area is not always easy. While you have plenty to choose from online, how do you know that the ones you select are right for you or that they will fight for your family’s right to compensation after your loved one’s premature death?
Understanding where to turn is critical, because you want someone who serves as your family and your loved one’s advocate.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC
online or by calling 502-791-9000.
Finding the Right Wrongful Death Attorney
To start, you should search online and look for any local attorneys. You may not have plenty of local attorneys to choose from, so expanding your search to a drive time you’re comfortable with – especially if you live outside of Louisville – is important, too.
From there, you should look at the following to see how past clients and even their peers rank them:
Bar Association Records
You can look up any practicing attorney in your area at the local bar association. Make sure they have no pending actions, citations, or complaints filed against them. You can also make sure they are a registered member of the bar, and that they are in good standing.
Peer Reviews
You have numerous online peer review sites where other attorneys rank the experience and professionalism of fellow attorneys. These are important, because it means a lot when one attorney would highly recommend another one.
Online Client Reviews
Online client reviews, while important, should be taken with a grain of salt. You cannot always believe everything you read online, especially when it comes from past clients. Some clients may feel their case was worth more, but will negatively review an attorney because they did not get that amount – even if they received a fair amount of compensation.
Narrow Down the List
Write a list of anywhere from three to five attorneys that have passed your peers, online client, and bar association investigations. From there, you will want to ask the following questions either by researching their law firm and history or through a free consultation.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC
online or by calling 502-791-9000.
What to Ask or Consider When Hiring a Wrongful Death Attorney
Now you are ready to narrow down the list of attorneys for your case. Some key considerations to keep in mind include:
- Experience – How much experience does that attorney have in wrongful death cases versus other types of cases? Some firms focus on multiple areas of personal injury law, which is okay, but they may not have extensive knowledge or even courtroom experience when it comes to fighting a wrongful death case. These cases, while somewhat similar to personal injury, are much harder to calculate for settlements and argue in court. Therefore, you want someone who has experience in wrongful death.
- Time – You also want an attorney that has the time necessary to devote to your case. If an attorney has a high caseload already, they may not have time to talk to you about your case, guide you through the steps, or even negotiate a better settlement. Ideally, you want someone ready to focus on you.
- Other Help – How big is the firm? Will your attorney work alone or do they have staff members that you also deal with as part of the case. You may have secretaries, associates, other firm partners, or paralegals that you need to get to know, too – primarily if you will deal with them more than the attorney you hire.
How Soon Should You Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney?
The longer you wait, the harder it can be with these types of cases. Wrongful death claims, like other injury claims, are subjected to a strict timeline known as the statute of limitations.
In Kentucky, you can file a wrongful death claim up to two years from the date of the death. Unfortunately, waiting two years may make it harder to win your case. Two years is a long time for witnesses who may forget their testimony. Likewise, gathering evidence to support a case that is two years old is hard as well.
The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better it is for your case’s outcome. An experienced attorney can often tell you during an initial consultation if you have a valid claim. Then, they can start collecting evidence and working with insurance companies to reach a settlement.
Can You Use an Attorney Out-of-State?
If the death occurred in Kentucky and the incident that caused the death was also in Kentucky, you want an attorney from the area. While some attorneys are licensed to practice in other states, they do not have personal knowledge or experience with the local judges or defense attorneys who might work on the defendant’s case. A local attorney will know these parties and most likely they have faced them in court already.
Speak with a Wrongful Death Attorney Today
After the loss of a loved one, you may find that you need to file a suit in order to cover your costs. You are entitled to compensation, but compensation in wrongful death cases is not the same as if the victim lived.
Instead, these cases hinge on multiple factors, including whether the victim would have qualified for a personal injury settlement if they survived. Also, your damages are limited to those that affect you after your loved one’s death, including medical costs, funeral or burial expenses, loss of financial contributions, and loss of companionship.
To explore your options and to see if you have a valid case, contact a wrongful death attorney like Seth Gladstein at the Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC. You can schedule your no-obligation case evaluation today by calling us or request more information online.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC
online or by calling 502-791-9000.
