Things To Consider Before Changing Your Personal Injury Attorney

If you are involved in a personal injury case, you have the right to change your personal injury attorney. Common reasons people switch attorneys in a personal injury case include the following;

• An attorney’s failure to return calls or emails
• The attorney is pushing for a fast settlement
• The attorney’s strategy does not make sense
• The attorney does not have a strategy
• The attorney is untrustworthy
• The attorney-client relationship is tense
• The attorney is not explaining everything the client needs to know

If you feel your attorney is not the best fit for your personal injury case, you have the right to hire another attorney regardless of where you are in the claims process. However, before changing your personal injury attorney, there are some things you need to consider. Below, we discuss some of the factors you should consider before switching your personal injury attorney and the steps to take when changing attorneys.

Things To Consider Before Switching Personal Injury Attorneys

Before switching personal injury attorneys, the following are some of the things to consider;

You May Need To Pay the Attorney

While you have the right to file your personal injury attorney at any time, and for whatever reason, you may have to pay them. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. With this arrangement, the attorney receives their pay if and after they win the case. If you decide to fire your personal injury attorney before your case is concluded, they may want to be paid for the work done up until the termination date.

It is vital that before you switch personal injury attorneys, you review the contract between you and your recent attorney. If the agreement requires that you pay your attorney a particular amount if you terminate their services before your case’s conclusion, you will want to finalize that condition before hiring a new attorney.

The Timing of When You Change Attorneys Can Greatly Impact Whether a New Attorney Will Want To Take Over Your Case

While you are allowed to change attorneys anytime, it is crucial that you consider the timing of your case before firing your current attorney. If you decide to fire your current personal injury attorney after they’ve worked many hours, other attorneys may be hesitant to take over your case. The longer the case has been with your current attorney, the harder it might be for a new attorney to influence the case with their ideas and methods. If much of the discovery has taken place, an attorney might refuse to take over your case because of the fear that their influence on the outcome of your case will be limited.

However, it is crucial to keep in mind that it might be in your best interest to switch personal injury attorneys even if your current attorney has put in many hours of work.

Steps To Take To Switch Attorneys

If you decide to change personal injury attorneys, the following are some steps to take to ensure a smooth transition;

• Read the attorney-client contract to understand other legal binds agreed upon
• Notify your attorney about the termination in writing
• Request a copy of your case file

Contact Us for Legal Help

If you have a pending personal injury case, contact our West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm anytime to schedule a free consultation.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Bradenton, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Miami, Ocala, Orlando, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Melbourne areas.

Source:

law.cornell.edu/wex/contingency_fee