Selecting the right lawyer is never an easy task. There are more than 200,000 lawyers in California.

If you have suffered a serious personal injury or a loved one has died in an accident or you have sustained substantial financial damages as a result of someone's wrongdoing or an insurance company's conduct, you cannot afford to gamble on just any old (or young) lawyer. Being recommended by your next door neighbor, or being familiar with the lawyer from the kid's soccer games, or looking like a nice or honest person on television, etc., are not qualifications to handle your case. Even being a specialist in some unrelated legal area, like corporate or tax or family law, does not make a lawyer right for your personal injury, insurance bad faith or business tort case. You need a lawyer with the experience and resources to successfully handle your specific case. After all, this is the only case that you have and your financial future is dependent on its outcome. When your case is done, your lawyer will go on to the next one, but you will live with the result for the rest of your life.

Asking the right questions can help you pick the right person to trust your future with.

Find out about the lawyer's track record. Specifically, ask to see published verdict and settlement summaries documenting that the lawyer has successfully handled cases like yours; similar accidents and injuries.

See what type of Courtroom Presentations the lawyer has made in the past. Ask to see examples of documentary presentations the lawyer has made at settlement conferences and/or meditations. Also ask to see examples of exhibits the lawyer has used at trial. See examples of BIREN/KATZMAN's courtroom presentations.

Ask the lawyer if the firm has the resources to handle a major case. Visit the lawyer's offices and decide for yourself if the firm appears to be in a position to make the financial commitment necessary to successfully handle your case.

Most important, talk with the lawyer. Try to get a measure on what type of person the lawyer is and whether he/she is someone you feel that you can communicate with and will have confidence in.

Contact BIREN/KATZMAN  for a free consultation about cases in any of our practice areas; your recovery could begin today .

• Questions Every Client Should Ask
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