Three Qualities to Look For in a Sexual Assault Lawyer
The need for a sexual assault lawyer is obvious. The average attorney-negotiated settlement is more than three times higher than the average non-attorney-negotiated settlement. Furthermore, although most cases settle out of court, most cases also involve at least one pretrial hearing. Lawyers effectively advocate for victims in these situations. This point dovetails with the final point, which is that attorneys give victims peace of mind as they deal with uncertain situations.
However, to obtain maximum compensation in a sexual assault injury claim, you need the right Columbia personal injury lawyer. These cases are very complex, usually because a third party, like a landlord or employer, is financially responsible for sexual assault damages. These damages normally include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Accessibility
Your Columbia personal injury lawyer should be physically and professionally accessible throughout your case.
Many sexual assault victims have mobility issues as they recover from their injuries. If the attorney’s primary office isn’t close by, an effective attorney-client partnership, which usually produces the best results, is unobtainable. Furthermore, simply getting to the lawyer’s office could be an issue, especially on a bad day.
Professionally accessible lawyers assume personal responsibility for all the work done in your case. They don’t over-delegate tasks to non-legal assistants or less-experienced associates. They definitely don’t blame these professionals for errors, if things go sideways.
Additionally, your lawyer should be committed to your case and should be willing to go to the mat for you. This aspect of accessibility is closely related to dedication, a quality which is discussed below.
Experience
Experienced lawyers regularly practice in local courts and have developed proven methods in sexual assault cases.
All judges have their own rules of procedure and evidence. Many of these rules are unwritten. Your sexual assault case should never be a training tool an inexperienced lawyer uses to learn the rules of conduct.
On a related note, students learn how to think like lawyers during law school. They only learn to act like lawyers once they’re out in the real world.
This experience should include sexual assault cases. These cases usually involve negligent security and other advanced legal theories. If an inexperienced lawyer is unfamiliar with how such theories work, the victim pays the price, in the form of reduced compensation.
Dedication
Because these cases are so unique, a lawyer should focus on personal injury matters. This focus helps ensure that the lawyer has a passion for such work. Only a strong passion provides enough fuel for the long process ahead.
Fundamentally, financial compensation isn’t the centerpiece of a personal injury case. These lawyers do what they do in order to protect individual legal and financial rights.
Furthermore, as mentioned, dedicated lawyers are with you until the end. They don’t quickly refer cases to other lawyers or look for a quick settlement.
Count on a Diligent Richland County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, contact the Marc Brown Law Firm. We routinely handle matters throughout the Palmetto State.
