How to Choose a Michigan Boat Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a Michigan boating accident, having the right lawyer on your side can mean the difference between getting all the money you need to pay for medical expenses, cover lost wages and compensate for other damages or falling far short of that and having to suffer without sufficient compensation from the person responsible for your injuries.

Choosing the right Michigan boat injury lawyer can be perplexing and stressful, and, most likely, you won’t have a lot of time to decide since you’ll need to have a lawyer on the job as quickly as possible to preserve evidence and field inquiries from insurance companies. If you don’t already have a lawyer who handles boat injury cases, start your search by asking friends and colleagues who have experience with boats or have been in a boating accident. They may be able to recommend an attorney.

You can also start by calling several personal injury attorneys who advertise their expertise in boat injury cases and schedule an initial consultation. Make sure the initial consultation is free of charge before scheduling it. You don’t want to pay for a lawyer’s time before knowing that you want to hire him or her. Most reputable personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation.

What to Look for in a Michigan Boat Injury Lawyer

During your initial consultation with each lawyer, be on the lookout for answers to the following questions. The more “yes” responses you give for a lawyer, the more likely you are to be satisfied with the lawyer’s work.

• Does the attorney have experience handling cases similar to yours?
• Can the attorney demonstrate a track record for winning significant awards/settlements in boat injury cases?
• Does the attorney handle only boat injury cases? (If not, what percentage of his/her cases are boat injury cases?)
• Does the attorney demonstrate familiarity with different types of boats, navigation on the water, boating rules and other boating-specific factors that may play a role in your case?
• Does the attorney make you feel confident about his ability and your case?
• Is the attorney patient in handling your questions?
• Does the attorney answer your questions directly?
• Does the attorney put you at ease?
• Did the attorney help you understand your case, taking time to explain unfamiliar concepts and the options available to you?
• Is the attorney’s estimate of your case’s value in line with other attorneys’ estimates? If not, does his explanation of the difference seem reasonable and right to you?
• Does the attorney have relationships with experts who will be of value in your case?
• Do you understand and agree with the attorney’s strategy and approach to your case?
• Does the attorney seem confident in your case?
• Is the attorney familiar with product liability law in case a defect in manufacture of a boat is involved in the accident?
• Can the lawyer readily assess the strengths and weakness of your case?
• Does the attorney charge on a contingency fee basis and only gets paid if you receive an award or settlement, rather than an hourly basis?
• Does the attorney’s fee rate seem reasonable to you and in line with other attorneys’ rates?
• If the attorney’s rates are significantly higher or lower than other attorneys, does his/her explanation for the difference seem reasonable and right to you?

In Michigan, the boat injury lawyers at Sachs Waldman, P.C., have extensive experience in boating accident cases and can help you obtain compensation for your medical costs and other damages when you’ve been involved in a Michigan boating accident. Find out why hundreds of boating accident and other personal injury victims trust their case to Sachs Waldman, P.C.

Call our Detroit boat injury attorneys at 1-800-638-6722 to schedule a free consultation.