Losing a loved one is never easy. But losing them because of someone else’s negligence…
Grief turns to something more than sorrow.
Something that demands answers and accountability.
The first step in that pursuit is meeting with the right attorney. But there’s a problem:
Most families go into that initial consultation unprepared. They forget important questions. They leave without the information they need.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Wrongful death consultation preparation is the key to getting the answers that matter. The right questions will help determine whether an attorney is a good fit. They can also give families a clearer idea of what comes next.
In This Guide
- Why Prep Is Key Before The Meeting
- Questions To Ask About The Attorney’s Experience
- Questions About The Case Itself
- Documents To Bring For The Meeting
- Everything You Need To Know About Fees & Costs
Why Prep Is Key Before The Meeting
Fact: Walking into a legal consultation without a plan is like going to a job interview and not knowing what the company does. It’s a waste of time.
Families schedule a wrongful death case free consultation in Little Rock because they want to get answers.
The question is, how do they make sure those answers are the right ones?
Here’s the answer: preparation matters.
It matters a lot.
Attorneys see dozens of prospective clients every week. They remember the families that walk in prepared. Those families get more out of the meeting. They leave with clarity rather than confusion.
Plus, according to CDC statistics, unintentional injuries are the third leading cause of death in the United States. In other words, wrongful death attorneys have a lot of cases coming through their doors.
The better prepared families are, the more likely an attorney will take the time to help them.
Questions To Ask About The Attorney’s Experience
No two wrongful death attorneys are the same.
Some focus on medical malpractice cases. Others take on car accident cases or workplace incidents. The attorney’s specific experience makes a difference.
Families should know exactly where an attorney’s strengths lie before hiring them. To do that, they need to ask specific questions.
Start with this list:
- How many wrongful death cases have you handled? Families need an idea of the attorney’s track record. Experience is a valuable asset in wrongful death cases. It’s also impossible to know how many cases an attorney has handled without asking.
- What types of wrongful death cases do you typically take? This information gives families a sense of what an attorney handles regularly. Not all wrongful death cases are the same. And some require more expertise than others.
- What was the outcome of your most recent cases? Most attorneys are happy to provide general information about recent verdicts and settlements. It’s an important question to ask because it gives families an idea of success rates.
- Will you personally handle the case or pass it along to another attorney? In-house staffing matters. The attorney that provides the consultation may not be the one that handles the case. That shouldn’t be a deal-breaker as long as an attorney has enough staff to take on the case.
- Have you ever taken a wrongful death case to trial? This question is more important than most families realize. The truth is that many wrongful death cases settle before trial. However, some attorneys will avoid trial like the plague. Families should know whether an attorney will fight for them in court or not.
Documents To Bring For The Meeting
Preparation isn’t just about questions; it’s also about documentation.
The more information the attorney has during that first consultation, the better. Families who show up empty-handed put the attorney on the defensive.
Attorneys can’t help much if they don’t know what happened.
The good news is that it’s not hard to gather together the documents an attorney will need. Not every item may be available right away. That’s okay.
Families should bring whatever they can. The attorney can then walk them through getting additional records if needed. The goal of preparation is to provide as much information as possible for the attorney to properly assess the case.
Questions About The Case Itself
After the attorney’s background is out of the way, families can start asking questions about their case.
Every wrongful death situation is different. A car accident case is nothing like a medical malpractice claim. Case circumstances dictate the legal strategy.
Families should ask the attorney specific questions about the case. This list is a good starting point:
- Do you believe there is a valid wrongful death claim in this case? This is the million-dollar question, of course. The attorney needs to know whether there’s a case at all before moving forward.
- Who would be liable in this situation? Determining fault and liability is a complicated process. However, families have a right to know who the attorney will target with a lawsuit.
- What is the estimated timeline for this case? Wrongful death cases take time. Families need to know whether an attorney can handle their case in a reasonable amount of time.
- What challenges do you foresee with this case? Attorneys know what makes a case difficult. They should be willing to share their concerns about a particular claim.
- What is the potential value of this claim? Attorneys can’t promise a specific settlement or verdict amount. However, they can give families a realistic range of what they might expect.
Understanding Fees & Costs
Money is always a sensitive subject. But it’s one that still needs to be discussed.
Most wrongful death attorneys work on contingency fees. They only get paid if they get a settlement or verdict. However, there’s more to know about the financial side.
Questions families should ask include:
- What percentage of the award do you receive if we win the case? Families have a right to know exactly how much they have to pay their attorney.
- Are there any costs we need to pay upfront? Contingency fees aren’t the only way wrongful death attorneys make money. Understanding potential out-of-pocket expenses is crucial.
- Who is responsible for paying for expert witnesses, and court fees? Expert witnesses and court costs can add up. Families need to know who will be on the hook for those fees.
- If we lose the case, do we owe you anything? Losing a wrongful death case is a reality, no matter the attorney’s skill. Families need to know whether there will be fees and costs even if the case is lost.
- How are all of the expenses handled during the case? No attorney will charge all fees and expenses upfront. Families still need to know how an attorney handles the out-of-pocket costs.
Talking money can feel a little awkward. It shouldn’t be.
Any reputable attorney will answer fee-related questions without hesitation or defensiveness. If an attorney gets flustered when asked about costs, that’s a red flag for families.
The Emotional Aspect Of Preparation
Here’s something important that is often overlooked:
Wrongful death consultations are emotionally challenging for families. Grief is still a very real thing. Talking about what happened to a loved one is a painful experience.
Preparation can help with that as well.
Writing questions down in advance means families don’t have to think on the fly during the consultation. Instead, they can concentrate on what the attorney is saying. It’s also okay to bring a friend or family member along for support.
They can take notes and remember things the grieving family member may not.
Putting It All Together
Wrongful death consultation preparation is the difference between a stressful meeting and a productive one.
The right questions will tell families if an attorney is a fit for their case. The right documentation will provide an attorney what they need to properly evaluate the claim. And finally, understanding fees upfront will prevent surprises later.
In summary, families should:
- Do their research on the attorney’s background before the meeting
- Write down a list of questions about the attorney and case specifics
- Gather up all available documentation related to the death
- Ask direct questions about fees and costs
- Bring a friend or family member for support and note-taking
Preparation isn’t about becoming a legal expert over night. Preparation is about walking into that consultation ready and informed.
Justice for a loved one always starts with asking the right questions.