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Word of mouth is the best way. Ask your friends who have had
a similar problem. Ask your doctor. Ask your plumber. Ask your
neighbor. When you find a lawyer, do not be bashful to ask the
lawyer if he/she regularly handles this kind of case. Ask the
lawyer what other kinds of cases the lawyer handles. Be wary if
the lawyer handles everything from alimony to zoning. Make sure
you understand how the fee is charged. Talk to more than one
lawyer before you hire one. Second opinions are good things. Will
this lawyer handle your case personally, or give it to a junior
associate with little experience? Will this lawyer send the case
to another more skillful lawyer? Go the lawyer's office with a
written list of questions so that you are not intimidated. If the
lawyer seems like he/she is offended that you are asking questions,
leave. All you are trying to do is to be a smart consumer.
One more thing: Some lawyers will settle all of their
client's cases and never go to trial. Trials take a lot of time
and preparation for lawyers. Trials are risky. Reasonable
settlement offers should be accepted. However, if the offers are
always accepted, the lawyer will get the reputation that he always
settles cases, and the offers will start to go down. You have to
try some cases to make sure the insurance companies appreciate your
competance. So, ask the lawyer for the names of the three most
recent cases he has tried, and when the trials occurred. If your
lawyer hasn't been to court in 10 years, better get another lawyer.
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