What Ethical Obligations Does My Personal Injury Attorney Have To Me?
Attorneys are not only expected to follow the law and obey the rules of conduct, but they also have certain ethical obligations to their clients. Ethics are values and principles, which, together with laws and rules of conduct, regulate a profession, such as the legal profession. Ethics act as a guide to ensure proper conduct in the daily practice of the law. Below, we look at some of the ethical obligations your Florida personal injury attorney owes you.
Independence
It is difficult for your personal injury attorney to represent you well if they are subject to interference from other people, especially those in power. Your attorney needs to practice independence so they can be able to provide you with unbiased advice and representation throughout your case.
Honesty and Integrity
Your Florida personal injury attorney needs to be honest with the insurance company and the court if you end up filing a lawsuit. On top of that, your attorney has the ethical obligation to maintain the highest standard of honesty and integrity towards you. If your attorney is not honest with you, it can be difficult for you to trust them. For example, if your attorney refuses to share with you vital details about your case, it might be hard for you to trust them.
Also, your attorney should tell you the truth and not just what you want to hear. For example, your attorney should avoid setting unrealistic expectations regarding the damages they can help you recover.
Competency
Competent representation from your personal injury attorney requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation that is reasonably necessary to represent you. If your attorney does not have the legal knowledge and skill that is reasonably necessary to represent you, they should not be representing you.
Confidentiality
Your personal injury attorney has an ethical and legal duty to keep the details of your case confidential, and the circumstances that your attorney can disclose information about your case are strictly limited. The duty of confidentiality prevents your attorney from even informally discussing information related to your case with other people.
Avoiding a Conflict of Interest
Your personal injury attorney is ethically obligated to avoid a conflict of interest. For example, it would be unethical for your attorney to represent you (the injured party) and the negligent driver from the same auto accident.
Acting in Your Best Interest
Lastly, your Florida personal injury attorney is ethically obligated to act in your best interest. For example, your attorney should not steer you to accept an unfair settlement offer just because they want money for their firm. Instead, your attorney has an ethical obligation to fight for the maximum compensation for you.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you are looking for an independent, honest, and competent attorney to help you fight for the compensation you deserve for the injuries and damages you suffered in an auto accident because of another person’s negligence, you should consider talking to our Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm. Our attorneys have years of experience representing clients like you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, West Palm Beach, Ocala, Jacksonville, Tampa, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Bradenton, and Daytona Beach areas.
