Wrongful death is preventable with due care and responsibility. Most injury-related deaths occur due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness or malicious intent to harm. If someone else caused your loved one’s death, you have legal options in West Virginia. Bringing a wrongful death claim could give you closure, a sense of justice and financial compensation to see your family through this difficult time. Find out how much a West Virginia wrongful death lawyer might cost you, and why paying for legal representation could be in your best interest.
Most wrongful death lawyers make their fees affordable for clients by working on contingency. A contingency-fee based law firm has lawyers who do not charge any money upfront for their services. You will not have to pay a retainer or down payment to initiate the lawyer’s services. You will not pay for the lawyer’s services hourly, regardless of the outcome of your case. Instead, you will only pay attorney’s fees at the end of your case, and only if your lawyer succeeds in obtaining your family a compensatory award.
Contingency fees work by paying the attorney out of a portion of the settlement or jury verdict won. If your lawyer does not win your case, you will not owe any money in legal fees – even if your lawyer spent days or weeks on the case. If you do win a financial award, you will pay your lawyer a pre-arranged percentage of the total sum obtained. This percentage changes depending on the firm and the case. If your attorney obtains $100,000 in compensation for your family and charges a 33% rate, for example, you will pay the lawyer $33,000 at the completion of your wrongful death case.
Each lawyer, law firm and case is unique. It is important to hire a lawyer you feel comfortable with. Your lawyer should give you information about how much you will pay upfront before you sign anything. You should not have to deal with any hidden fees or unexpected costs. Look for a few key things before choosing your wrongful death lawyer.
Schedule free consultations with a few top choices to search for an honest, friendly and straightforward attorney to represent your family during a wrongful death claim in West Virginia. You should fully understand what the lawyer will cost to hire, including any court filing fees, processing fees, witness fees and more from the beginning. The attorney you choose should make you feel confident in his or her abilities.
It is an unfortunate truth that insurance companies, claims adjusters and even the civil justice system generally do not work in a plaintiff’s favor. Going up against a powerful company, such as an employer, product manufacturer or trucking company, can be difficult without a lawyer representing you. A case against an individual can also be confusing and difficult to win on your own. If you hire an attorney, on the other hand, you can reap many benefits during your case.
Hiring a lawyer can help you maximize compensation for your loved one’s wrongful death. Rather than accepting a lowball settlement offer from an insurance company, your lawyer can assist you with claim negotiations for a better amount. Your lawyer can also take your wrongful death claim to court in West Virginia if that is what it takes to achieve top results. An injury attorney can take care of investigations, evidence collection, eyewitness interviews, claims processing and compensation negotiations on your behalf. You can focus on healing with your family while your lawyer takes care of the rest.
Attorney Timothy Manchin established the Manchin Injury Law Group in 2011 after his law partner of more than 25 years became a West Virginia circuit court judge. His focus is on helping individual clients and entire families victimized by negligent acts.
We offer a free initial consultation at our office in the Manchin Professional Building — our home since 1983 — conveniently located in Fairmont.
If you are unable to visit our firm, we can come to your home or hospital room.
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