Last year, almost 11 million people were treated in emergency departments for injuries resulting from consumer products. Most injuries involve everyday products assumed to be safe.
In some cases, you can receive compensation for these injuries if the product was dangerous and defective. Companies have a responsibility to ship out safe products for their consumers.
To help you file a claim, hire a product liability attorney. Keep reading to learn how to choose the best one.
Consider Legal Practice Specialization
To find the best product liability attorney, you’ll need to find one who specializes in that type of law. Law firms and lawyers specialize in a certain area of law rather than being general lawyers.
After defective product injuries, you’ll want legal help from someone who has handled a similar case before. You can find their area of expertise on online lawyer search pages.
For example, Courtney Lanier Sarofim has a Martindale page that notes products liability as an area of practice.
Find Someone Who Can Negotiate
If you want to receive the most compensation for your case, find a product liability lawyer with great negotiation skills. In these cases, the damages you receive depend highly on how your lawyer negotiates.
Large companies will opt for out-of-court settlements instead of going to trial. This means they are likely to negotiate a fair price to avoid court.
They’ll start the negotiation process with a low-ball offer that you don’t want to take. From there, your lawyer can start real negotiations.
Learn How They Communicate
Another consideration on how to choose a lawyer is their method of communication. You’ll want a legal professional who is willing to answer your calls when you have questions, concerns, etc.
The attorney you choose should make an effort to contact you throughout the legal process. Ask their preferred method of communication to see if it aligns with your needs.
Ask About Their Educational Background
It’s not that common to consider educational background when choosing a lawyer, but it could be significant for finding a product liability attorney specifically.
Finding out where they studied and went to school is often linked to specialization. Ask if they specialized in any legal field at the law school they attended.
Consider Previous Experience
Not all product liability cases are the same so you’ll want to choose a lawyer who has previous experience in cases like yours.
To conduct an experience check, figure out how many years the attorney has been practicing their area of expertise. The longer it has been, the more knowledge and experience they will have to offer.
During a consultation, you can ask a product liability attorney how they would go about your case. If they have worked on similar cases before, their answer should be detailed.
Choosing a Product Liability Attorney for Your Needs
If you’ve sustained injuries from a dangerous or faulty product, receiving compensation can help cover medical costs and other damages.
If you choose to file a case on your own, the settlement offer you receive will likely be less than you deserve. To get what your case is worth, hire a product liability attorney.
With this guide, you’ll be able to find the right person for your needs. For more important topics like this, check out the other posts on our blog.
