Archive for January, 2010

Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia Reviews Misconceptions of Personal Injury Clients

January 24th, 2010

Common Misconceptions about Selecting an Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia

Many personal injury clients think that all personal injury lawyers handle cases in the same way.This is simply not true. But, how do you go about choosing an accident lawyer in Philadelphia?Do you even need a lawyer? For small property damage claims, you may not need a lawyer.The same can be true for minor injury cases.But what is a minor injury case? Right after a trauma it may not always be apparent whether an injury which is initially minor will get worse, whether a case is small or large.

There are certain questions to ask that will lead you to the best accident lawyer in Philadelphia for your case, no matter what type of case you have.Personal injury cases are much too specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these cases. You should be aware that the insurance companies who defend personal injury and accident cases know who the lawyers are who actually go into court to try cases, and who do not.Not every accident lawyer in Philadelphia goes to trial; lawyers differ on their experience level and training.

The following steps will help you in your selection of an accident lawyer in Philadelphia.

1. Get a referral from a lawyer that you know.He or she will probably know someone who specializes in personal injury cases.

2. The Yellow Pages can actually be a good source of names.So can the internet.But be aware of the following: first, not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages. Most of our cases come from referrals from other lawyers or from satisfied clients.Second, be careful about the ads that advertise for too many different areas of practice.No one can do everything well.And anyone can buy a Yellow Page ad. Just because a lawyer has an ad, does not mean they are the best choice.

3. Call your local bar association for a referral.

4. When interviewing lawyers on the phone, ask if they have information like this and/or a website so you can find out more about their qualifications, experience, and method of handling cases.Try to find this out before you walk in their office.

5. Beware of any lawyer who contacts you in writing just after you have an accident for the sole purpose of soliciting your claim.

6. Here are just a few criteria to look for and question your prospective lawyer about.Not every lawyer will meet all of these criteria, but you should consider these criteria as a beginning point.

Experience – Obviously, the longer a lawyer has been practicing in a particular area of law, the more he or she knows.

Experience actually trying cases – Past results are not a guarantee of future success,but past results do demonstrate some level of experience and success.

Respect in the legal community – For instance, does the layer you are considering hiring teach other lawyers in Continuing Legal Education seminars?

Membership in the trial lawyer associations – Look for lawyers who are members of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ), American Association for Justice (AAJ), and their local trial organizations.This usually helps to demonstrate their commitment and dedication to their particular area of law that they practice.Go one step further and ask your prospective lawyer if he or she participates in any committees in the groups in which they belong.

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Family Law Counsel

January 24th, 2010

There are many specialties in the legal world. Here is what family law experts cover.

Attorneys often specialize in one or more legal areas and one of those specialties is family law. Some other examples include criminal, DUI, business and tax, bankruptcy and the more personal legal issues which make up the arena of family law. If a person needs legal advice in dealing with issues pertaining to their children, spouse or parents, they should seek the advice of an expert who has experience dealing with families’ concerns. Here are some of the more common cases that they work on:

– Divorce: When a marriage relationship has ended, legal actions must be taken in order to divide the assets, debts, and determine parental rights. Having competent advice during this life change can make or break a person’s financial and emotional world for years to come.

– Legal Separation: A legal separation is very similar to a divorce except that the parties cannot remarry. Some couples choose this over a divorce because of health insurance, retirement benefits or property division issues. The financial lives of each person will be severed but other rights and obligations such as health and retirement benefits will be retained.

– Child Custody: A legal decision must be made after dissolution of marriage occurs regarding the caretakers of the union’s children. Examples include joint or shared custody, custodial and visiting parent and even rights for grandparents.

– Child Support: Regardless of who has custody of the kids, both parents are responsible for their offspring’s financial support until their brood reaches 18 years of age. Support obligations that are not voluntarily adhered to by either parent will need to be enforced by the courts.

– Adoption: When a couple or individual chooses to adopt a baby or children, this is a legal process that involves protecting the best interests of all parties concerned. The process needs be monitored and overseen by a family law attorney.

– Paternity rights and obligations: Legal help is sometimes necessary in order to give a father his rights to his children even if he is not married to the mother of his kids. Paternity issues also arise when an unmarried father is not assuming financial responsibility for his offspring and must be forced to do so by the court system.

– Juvenile court issues: If there are problems concerning the law with an adolescent, the legal system may step in to help alleviate or correct the problems.

– Foster care: When a child enters the foster care system, he or she will need the expert oversight and advice of a lawyer to make certain that the child is placed with a qualified foster family and that financial needs are taken care of.

Individuals and their relatives who need legal representation should go to the professionals. All of the above needs can be competently addressed by a good firm.

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