Hiring the right Boca Raton personal injury attorney for your personal injury case is critically important. After an accident, your physical health may be uncertain, medical bills may be piling up, and you may be feeling a great deal of stress and anxiety.
Selecting the right Boca Raton personal injury attorney is paramount. The right Boca Raton personal injury attorney will help you navigate the many complex issues you will face.
The Florida Bar provided a helpful list of 10 basic rights you have when selecting your attorney. The list can be found here: https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/pamphlet001/. Consider using the following 10 basic rights as potential discussion points when interviewing and meeting your Boca Raton personal injury attorney:
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Be Capable Of Handling My Case
It goes without saying that your Boca Raton personal injury attorney must be capable of handling your case.
Discuss the facts of your case and make sure the Boca Raton personal injury attorney has handled cases similar to yours.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Represent Me Zealously And Seek Any Lawful Means To Present My Case
Your Boca Raton personal injury attorney must represent you zealously.
In fact, the United States Supreme Court stated that attorneys must give each client “fearless, vigorous and effective advocacy.” Offutt v. United States, 348 U.S. 11, 13 (1954).[1]
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Preserve My Confidences, Secrets Or Statements Which I Reveal In The Course Of Our Relationship
The attorney-client privilege is one of the oldest privileges for confidential communications.
Absent extreme circumstances, your attorney must never violate your confidences.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Give Me The Right To Make The Ultimate Decision On The Objectives To Be Pursued In My Case
Clients often forget that they – not the attorney – are the ultimate decision makers. Always remember this. Never feel pressured to make a decision against your wishes.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Charge Me A Reasonable Fee And Tell Me, In Advance Of Being Hired And Upon My Request, The Basis Of That Fee
As I have written about recently, personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee (see: https://barthelettelaw.com/what-do-personal-injury-attorneys-charge-for-their-services/).
You have the right to know the fees your Boca Raton personal injury attorney will charge.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Show Me Courtesy And Consideration At All Times
Your Boca Raton personal injury attorney should not be disrespectful or unapproachable.
Instead, you should expect courteous and caring communication.
Your Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Exercise Independent Professional Judgment On Your Behalf, Free From Compromising Influences
Your Boca Raton personal injury attorney should make his or decisions free from outside influences.
Your Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Inform You Periodically About The Status Of Your Case And, At Your Request, Give You Copies Of Documents Prepared
There should be no mystery or uncertainty about what is happening with your case. You have the right to regular, consistent updates.
Communication is key.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Exhibit The Highest Degree Of Ethical Conduct
Ethical conduct must be the norm, not the exception. Expect nothing less from your Boca Raton personal injury attorney.
My Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Will Refer Me To Other Legal Counsel, If He Or She Cannot Properly Represent Me
If your Boca Raton personal injury attorney cannot competently and properly represent you, he or she should not represent you – period.
As I mentioned above, make sure your Boca Raton personal injury attorney has handled cases like yours.
Call Barthelette Law, Your Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney
If you were involved in an accident and have questions about your rights as a client, don’t hesitate to call. We are here to answer all of your questions.
We are Barthelette Law, your Boca Raton personal injury attorney!
[1] The full opinion can be found at: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15348771758421925949&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr