Notes

Thoughts About Common-Sense Product Liability Strategies

High Quality Advice On Working With Lawyers Is Found Here


Despite the fact that our judicial system was set up for the benefit of the common people, no common person can really understand it! That's when the assistance of an attorney proves invaluable. No matter what your reasons for needing the services for a lawyer are, the following article can help guide you through the ordeal.

When you are hiring a lawyer, make sure that there is a discussion about the payment plan that you want to instill. Sometimes, you may not have all of the money upfront, so you will want to workout a monthly plan that suits you comfortably. Get this done ahead of time so you don't have to worry about it later.

If you're anticipating future problems, it might not be a bad idea to have an attorney on retainer. You won't feel pressured and can take the necessary amount of time. With having someone already retained and ready to go, you'll never be left with lingering legal questions.

A good tip to keep in mind when thinking about hiring a lawyer is to write down several questions that you wish to ask him or her. You want to find out what their philosophy is and so on, and asking questions will help give you a clear idea about them.

Real estate lawyers can be a real asset when dealing with real estate issues. They'll get the case done and over with quickly and positively.

Use Google to your advantage when it comes to hiring a lawyer. Look for reviews about any attorney you are considering. If the general consensus is that the attorney you are interested in is lazy and incompetent, you should do your best to look for another attorney to handle your case.

Imagine taking on a lawyer who is about to enter court for the first time. That's what will happen if you take a general lawyer into a case where a specializing lawyer is a better bet. Ask any lawyer you know for their recommendations, and you'll be pleased with the outcome.

Do not feel obligated to hire a lawyer because you met a few times and got some useful advice. You should sign a contract only after you agree on fees and feel comfortable with your lawyer. If you are hesitating because you have heard bad things about this lawyer or think the fees are too high, keep looking.

Invest time into finding the right attorney. Don't just hire the first person you hear about. Ask family and friends who they work with. Look up the person you are considering online and see if anyone left a testimonial regarding their work. You want to find a person that is going to help, not hurt, your case.

If a lawyer makes you any guarantee of outcome during your first interview, it is probably best to just walk away. An honest lawyer knows that anything can happen. A guarantee of an outcome is a huge warning sign of a possibly incompetent or unethical lawyer.

Make sure the lawyer that you chose is licensed in the area that the case will be held. Lawyers must be licensed in a jurisdiction to be allowed to practice there. Most practice in entire states, while others hold licenses around the country. Be sure to know this information before you sign on with a lawyer.

Once you have made the decision to hire a particular attorney, ask if the office employs a legal assistant who could work with you. Many times a legal assistant has the ability to effectively represent a client. Vehicle Accident shared arrangement can greatly reduce the full cost of your legal representation.

Do not allow yourself to judge an attorney based on how good their advertisements are. The reality is that an attorney that is reputable doesn't have to advertise to get new clients. Look into your attorney's background and use what you find to help you make the decision about whether or not to hire them.

Lawyers exist for the simple fact that our society requires them. They will help you in ways that no one in another profession can when it comes to needing legal representation. If you want to achieve the desired outcome of your case, only the best will do.

Auto insurers play hardball in minor-crash claims
Profitable strategy


The cases, CNN found, illustrate a carefully developed strategy to make the victims look like they are trying to defraud the insurers.


But documents CNN obtained indicate profit, not fraud, is the reason companies decided to play hardball in small accidents.


For Allstate and State Farm, according to documents obtained by CNN, the strategy was developed in the mid-1990s with the assistance of consulting giant McKinsey & Co.


Looking for a way to boost profits, McKinsey focused on soft-tissue injuries incurred in minor crashes.


While the McKinsey documents -- numbered in the thousands -- are under seal in courts around the country, CNN saw several of them during a court hearing in Lexington, Kentucky.


Playing off Allstate's signature slogan, one document recommends the insurer put boxing gloves on its "good hands" for those who insist on going to court.


The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee Jim Mathis, relies on the three D's -- denying a claim, delaying settlement of the claim and defending against the claim in court.


"The profits are good, and as long as the community, the public allows this to occur, the insurance companies will get richer and people ... will not get a fair and reasonable settlement," Mathis said.


Both Allstate and State Farm declined requests for interviews.


In an e-mail, Allstate wrote it did not believe it would "have any real opportunity of being successful in getting you (CNN) to do a balanced report."


State Farm wrote: "We take customer service seriously and seek to pay what we owe, promptly, courteously and efficiently, and we handle each claim on its own merits."


The company also said, "Any attempt to generalize that State Farm adopted consultant recommendations as other insurers is just plain wrong."


A company spokesman sent an additional e-mail, saying that the company did work with McKinsey to improve claims handling but State Farm stopped using the McKinsey program in 1999.


Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told CNN insurers do not have a strategy of blanket denial of claims. He also said strategies to limit expenditures on minor-impact crashes are needed to fight fraud.


Hartwig specifically singled out lawyers who he claims make a living on car accident victims, saying those lawyers are upset because "the gravy train is over."






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