Characteristics of a Good Product Liability Lawyer
In California, injured victims have the opportunity to file product liability lawsuits against those who are responsible for their damages. It is important to remember that simply filing a lawsuit is not the same as winning a lawsuit. Anyone can file a lawsuit against a company for creating defective products. You do not even need a lawyer to do this. However, getting an adequate settlement and holding these negligent companies accountable is a different story altogether.
In order to accomplish this feat, you will need to do much more than fill out a few pieces of paperwork. The only way to truly make sure that these companies see consequences for their actions is to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. We have the skills and resources to take on these companies in court, often going toe to toe with extremely competent corporate defense attorneys.
Choosing the right attorney is absolutely essential when taking legal action against a company for a defective product. But how exactly do you choose the best attorney for the job? You may have no legal knowledge or experience, and you might not know where to start. Generally speaking, you should always search for an attorney who specializes in product liability lawsuits. These attorneys will have considerable experience with product liability lawsuits, and they can help you pursue a favorable outcome in an efficient manner. One law firm in San Francisco that has dealt with countless product liability lawsuits in the past is Mary Alexander & Associates.
Consider Practice Areas
The first thing you will need to consider is the lawyer’s practice areas. What type of case is their most common? What do they specialize in? This will make a huge difference as you take on companies in court. A lawyer who specializes in something like criminal defense may not be the best choice, since they deal with very different case law on a daily basis. On the other hand, a personal injury attorney will probably be a solid choice. This is because these attorneys are used to fighting for the rights of injury victims. If you can find a lawyer who focuses specifically on product liability lawsuits, that is even better.
Trust Your Instincts
Your initial consultation with a prospective lawyer will tell you a lot about them. While you can certainly base your decision on what they say and the information you discover about the firm, you should also listen to your instincts. There are those who say that you should base your final decision entirely on logic, but it is important to remember that you will be working closely with this attorney for the foreseeable future. The last thing you want is to choose an attorney about whom you have a bad feeling. If you feel like you cannot really trust the lawyer you are considering, they might be the wrong choice.
Consider Negotiation Skills
Your attorney’s ability to help you recover compensation may depend heavily on their negotiation skills. Big companies often choose to settle out of court instead of going to trial, and this means they will come to the negotiation table with an offer. Almost inevitably, these offers start quite low. Your lawyer’s ability to negotiate will help you receive a more reasonable settlement amount, and this can make all the difference when you are dealing with medical expenses, missed wages, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Consider Communication Skills
Communication is vitally important in virtually every type of relationship, including the professional relationship you will have with your attorney. You should feel like you are free to reach out to your attorney and ask questions. Attorneys who continuously tell you that they are too busy to talk might be the wrong fit. Communication is not a one-way street, either. Your lawyer should be making an effort to reach out to you, as well, providing you with regular updates about your case and helping you understand what is going on behind the scenes.
What Kind of Education Do They Have?
You might also want to consider what kind of education your attorney has. While this is not always the most important factor, it is definitely worth considering. Did they graduate at the top of their class? What were their academic achievements? What school did they go to? Did they specialize in any particular legal field during their time in law school? These are all important questions to ask, and usually an attorney will clearly advertise their academic exploits in an effort to market themselves.
Consider Their Past Cases
Make no mistake, there are many different types of product liability lawsuits. A product can be defective for many reasons. These include defective design, defective manufacture, and breach of warranty or “failure to warn.” There is also a limitless range of products that could be defective, and each of these products may require a unique strategy. In an ideal world, you will find an attorney who has experience with cases involving the exact product and injury that you are dealing with.
While there are plenty of obscure products out there, some products seem to cause more injuries than others. Hopefully, you will find an attorney who has handled a case involving a product that is at least slightly similar to the one that has caused your injury. For example, exploding lithium-ion batteries are proving to be a common cause of product liability lawsuits in California. These batteries are used in numerous products, from small smartphones all the way up to electric cars.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
It is important to take all of the various aforementioned factors into account when choosing your attorney. With all that said, however, choosing the right attorney for the job might be easier than you think. Reach out to Mary Alexander & Associates, and you can feel confident that you are working alongside a professional legal team with plenty of experience in the world of product liability lawsuits. We have helped many injured victims recover considerable settlements for their injuries, and we feel confident in helping you reach the same goal. Book your consultation today, and we can move toward a favorable legal outcome together.
