Hiring an attorney for any reason is a conscious choice that determines how your case turns out. More often than not, the attorney you hire determines whether or not you win the case. It is even more complex if the attorney is a special one, such as maritime lawyers. While all lawyers have the expertise to deal with general cases, not all can handle specific instances such as maritime lawsuits, divorces, and other forms of complaints that require particular skill sets. In such cases, an attorney that is not only seasoned but one with specialized skills is essential.
It will help if you looked at the possibilities of hiring the right match for your case to increase winning chances. So what would one lookout for when choosing an attorney? Well, maritime attorneys come in different shapes and packages. However, you need to understand what makes a good lawyer stands out as the perfect fit for you before engaging them. For this reason, there are specific details that you must consider when selecting the attorney.
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A Maritime Lawyer is a Legal Expert of Water Laws
While this seems like an obvious fact, it should not be taken for granted. A maritime attorney is different from all other lawyers because their focus is always on matters about laws on water. They have the experience and expertise to deal with any legal issues in the seas and know everything around such operations.
In most cases, such attorneys are conversant with the land law and see a thing or two about how things should work out in the high seas. When scouting for such an attorney, make sure to look out for such elements in them. What this implies is that one should be asking for proof of expertise. Have they successfully handled a case dealing with maritime offenses before? What is their success rate, and did they manage to get reasonable compensation for the afflicted?
These are several crucial questions you need to ask around when looking through the list of potential maritime attorneys you want to hire. It is not enough for them to be knowledgeable because they went to school only. The experiential knowledge and expertise go a long way in ensuring that they are relevant for your case. After all, most maritime issues are not easy to handle. Choosing the wrong lawyer may be the easiest way to fail.
Knowledge is Key
When dealing with a maritime lawyer, their level of knowledge is paramount. There are a lot of complex legal details that surround maritime law. A lawyer that is not conversant with such laws can easily be thrown off guard. Once a defense attorney realizes such a weakness, they are likely to exploit it to your disadvantage.
Never settle for a lawyer starting in such a case unless working under a seasoned maritime attorney’s supervision. What’s more, there are different categories of maritime laws that the attorney must be conversant with. Depending on the type of case, it may be necessary to draw evidence based on international or local laws.
What’s more, these governing rules are also divided into different categories, including safety laws, pollution laws, employment laws, and other important categories that can be manipulated to get you a fair compensation deal. You are likely to get a shortchanged deal or miss out on potential compensation packages if the attorney is not well informed.
Choose a lawyer that understands private maritime law, as well as shipping laws, since you may not know which of these elements will come to play during your case trial. The bottom line is to go for an attorney that is a master at their game. Avoid general lawyers at all costs because they are likely to be shallow in their defense. An insurance agent and their legal team will have an easy time breaking apart your case if you do not have a strong lawyer’s backing.
Discuss the type of Injuries
Apart from understanding the general maritime law and exhibiting a solid knowledge of the same, you want to hire an attorney who has specialized in the kind of injury you need support. Different attorneys choose to concentrate on other things, even when they focus on maritime law. In this case, it is up to the client to carry out extensive research to locate an attorney who is passionate about maritime law and can help their specific case.
Common injuries that happen at sea include falls and slips, sickness, heavy lifting, and collisions. Choosing an attorney that understands the different types of accidents or injuries may be suitable. It means that you are likely to get justice faster when they handle your case. Such an attorney will know which processes to follow and may even have the right contacts to expedite the process to your favor. What’s more, they are also likely to be the best witnesses in your case because they have expert investigative skills that will unmask the actual events as they happened. With such a competent lawyer’s backing, any aggrieved party is almost assured of justice and compensation.
Talk about the Cost
Even as you check all the necessary details such as expertise and experience, it is crucial that you also understand the cost and charges the maritime lawyer is likely to charge. There may be governing standards that determine and direct legal fees in your locality, but agreements between the lawyer and clients will suffice in such cases. If possible, choose to go with an attorney that asks for a percentage of the compensation. Such payment terms serve as surety that the lawyer will treat the case with seriousness since their payment is on the line.
Final Thoughts
Choosing an attorney may not be as complicated as people assume, especially if you have referrals and can use online tools. However, there is more to settling on an attorney than just considering excellent reviews. It is even more challenging when the attorney in question is a maritime lawyer whom you must scrutinize. Maritime cases are not necessarily the most popular means that lawyers practicing this kind of law may also not be many as the other categories. Take your time to find a lawyer that understands your needs and appreciates your desires. It may not be straightforward, but the process will be worth it eventually.
