One of the most difficult decisions an accident victim has to make is to whether they should seek legal recourse. While there is no shortage of lawyers across Miami-Dade, Broward and Naples that will make unfathomable promises in an effort to sign you up as a new client – making the most informed decision can be difficult considering all the noise you need to navigate. The simple fact is that not all lawyers and law firms are equal. Who you choose to represent your interests can have a huge impact on the outcome of your case. Before you ever hire a personal injury attorney, these are some of the most important questions you should ask.
What types of cases do you routinely handle?
The law, like medicine, engineering or many other fields, has become increasingly specialized. While there are lawyers that believe they can handle any type of case, the truth is you are better off served by a law firm that specializes in the type of case you have. If you have been injured in an accident, seek legal representation from a personal injury specialist. If you broke your arm, you wouldn’t go to an oncologist. For the same reasons, if you need help with a personal injury matter then you should seek support from an attorney that specializes in matters such as yours.
Does the firm have sufficient resources to handle every aspect of your case in a timely manner?
Personal injury cases can sometimes involve the expenditure of tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of legal work including expert fees, proper investigative work, exhibits and other necessary expenses to properly prepare a case. Many firms or sole practitioners simply cannot afford to thoroughly prepare cases the right way because of a lack of resources. A lawsuit however, is just not a place where you want to cut corners. Make sure that a firm you choose is well established with the personnel and resources needed to argue against big insurance companies and other entities.
What kind of experience do the attorneys have to handle complex litigation such as yours?
Our firm, Weinstein & Cohen, is comprised of multiple experienced attorneys and complimented by a seasoned staff of paralegals and legal assistants. Our founding partners have been representing injured parties in wrongful death, medical malpractice, accident and other personal injury cases for more than 50 years combined. The firm has successfully handled thousands of cases and helped countless people whose lives have been affected by their injuries.
With a case like yours, how often does the firm go to trial?
Trial experience is critical when making your decision because ultimately you will be faced with the choice between accepting a final offer from the insurance company or taking your case to trial. Far too many attorneys across South Florida have never tried a case or rarely do and the insurance companies know exactly who they are. At Weinstein & Cohen, we take a different approach. We treat each case as if it was going to trial – no matter the size or scope. It’s one of our main differentiators and why the insurance lawyers for Allstate, GEICO, State Farm, Progressive and others know who we are and respect what we do. Furthermore, our founding partner Judson Cohen is certified by the Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Specialist, which represents the highest level attainable by the Florida Bar for special knowledge, skills and proficiency in civil litigation and trial work. In fact, only seven percent of the approximately 4,800 eligible Florida Bar members have earned board certification in one or more of the 26 specialty areas.
What is your firm’s success rate and recent outcomes with similar cases?
Weinstein & Cohen has a long-standing and distinguished record in courtrooms across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Collier County. We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an association only open to attorneys that have obtained multi-million dollar results from individual cases. We are also “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating for ability and ethics in the legal profession across South Florida. While not every case will result in multi-million dollar results, we approach each case as if it will. That’s why we’ve been so successful on cases of all sizes and scope because we don’t settle for the status quo.
For more information about how Weinstein & Cohen’s attorneys can help you following an accident, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability or nursing home claim, please call 305-374-1011, 239-793-3331 or visit fairnessforall.
