DOES THE LAW FIRM HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO COVER THE COSTS AND PREPARATION OF THE LITIGATION?
Since most seriously injured persons do not have funds available to pay the costs of litigation as they arise, the lawyer must advance them and they are returned to the lawyer out of any judgment or settlement obtained prior to the calculation of the fee. Litigation expenses can be quite substantial, as much as $50,000 or more in most medical malpractice, products liability and construction site accident cases. Even in automobile or fall down cases with moderate injuries, costs of $10,000 or more are not uncommon. If the law firm does not have adequate financial resources to advance the necessary costs, it is obvious its cases will not be properly prepared. In order to properly prepare and handle tort litigation today, it is necessary that the attorney not only have the ability and the financial resources to proceed, but also have an adequate support staff. Litigation has become extremely complicated. Before a matter is ready for settlement discussion or for trial, it requires numerous
