Resolving Issues With Your Personal Injury Lawyer
Picking a personal injury lawyer is a hard decision. This person may be handling your case for years and is responsible for getting you as much compensation as possible after an accident. You are going to need to trust them with personal details about your life and rely on them when you are in a vulnerable situation.
But maybe you develop concerns: Is your attorney handling your case correctly? Are you having issues communicating with their office? For that matter, are you allowed to pick a new attorney? Is it a mistake to change things up so late in your case?
Before you switch personal injury attorneys, our team at HN Injury Lawyers wants to help you find a better solution with the firm you are already at.
Can I Change Attorneys?
In most cases, you are allowed to change personal injury attorneys. Most of us work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning we only get paid after we win our clients compensation. This means that there are no upfront fees when you hire us, and clients are well within their rights to change attorneys if they are dissatisfied.
But changing attorneys should not be your first option. Instead, you should consider the reasons why you are dissatisfied and how you can come to a better understanding with your lawyer.
Communication Issues
One of the main reason clients become dissatisfied with attorneys is a lack of communication. Attorneys can become buried in the legal process as they investigate a claim, consult with expert witnesses, and collect evidence. This may lead to a backlog of messages, making clients feel they are not important or valued by the firm.
Many law firms have been slow to adapt to modern technology, and you might find it difficult to reach your attorney via texts or emails, but that doesn’t automatically mean they are ignoring you. There is simply a communication issue.
As with any relationship, the best solution is to talk to your attorney, preferably face to face. Let them know that you have been having issues getting in contact with them and want to touch base on your case. Chances are, they may have been working hard on a major break in your case. Or, they may have been in deep negotiations with an insurance company to get you a better deal.
Talking to them is the best way to resolve the communication issue and get your case back on track. Let your lawyer know if you have had any issues communicating with their firm and how you would like things to be moving forward. But always remember: a disappearing attorney may just be hard at work getting you results.
Lofty Expectations
After an accident, you may have researched online and seen massive settlements and jury verdicts that other plaintiffs in similar cases have received. While your claim should always include all of the costs you have incurred or suffered, you should keep your expectations in check. Different insurance policies have different limits, and there may be only so much money you can recover for your injuries. You may be hoping for a golden goose, but your real focus should be on getting your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses covered through the claim.
If you have questions about the value of your case, always remember: communication is the key. Reach out to your lawyer and ask what they reasonably expect to win. It may not be in line with your biggest dreams, but it may be the right amount to allow you to recover fully from the accident.
Time Drag
Most attorneys won’t give you a hard date for when your claim will be resolved, but we understand when clients feel frustrated about how long the process can take. You should always remember that even if your attorney is working around the clock on your case, the other side has just as many resources and lawyers to defend them. With enough time and skill, your attorney should be able to wear them down and negotiate a fair settlement, but you shouldn’t expect immediate results.
We advise you to check in with your attorney about the status of your case and any difficulties they are facing. There may be factors delaying a resolution, but you won’t know until you get a clearer picture. Your attorney should be able to walk you through how negotiations are going and the expected timeline of your claim.
Will Cost Me If I Do Switch Lawyers?
Not necessarily. Because most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, there should be no fee for switching attorneys. However, you should check your retainer agreement to see if there are any costs you will be held responsible for if you switch, such as office or filing fees.
Also, if your case is in the later stages of negotiating, it may be difficult to get a new attorney up to speed before the statute of limitations runs out. A better solution may be for you to request that your attorney consult with another firm or outside counsel.
What HN Injury Lawyers Can Do to Help
Our team at HN Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping accident victims in Santa Ana get the most out of their accident claims. We know that some clients become dissatisfied with their attorneys over a lack of communication or other issues, but we always encourage them to try to resolve these issues before switching. If you have questions about your case, we can reach out to your lawyer to help facilitate a positive resolution.
If you were injured by another person’s negligence and do not already have a personal injury attorney, reach out to HN Injury Lawyers. Our Santa Ana accident lawyers have more than 50 years of combined experience fighting for clients who just want to get their medical bills paid and move past a tragic event. We can use our wealth of knowledge and resources to investigate your accident, determine who is responsible for your trauma, and fight to get you full compensation from an insurance company. Call us today at (657) 333-5726 to talk about your case in a free consultation.
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