No matter what situation you are dealing with, hiring a lawyer is one of the most important decisions that a person can make. This decision means trusting an individual with your loved ones, assets and outcome of your future. Because of this, you want to be completely confident in the person you choose to handle your case.
But what if a lawyer has already been hired? Is it too late to make a change if unexpected conflicts or inadequacies arise? That’s why we want to give you more insight on Switching Personal Injury Lawyers: What You Need To Know.
If you are unhappy with the results you are getting from your personal injury lawyer, or maybe you find someone more suited to your specific case, you can most certainly switch out your personal injury lawyer. While the new lawyer will have to essentially start from the ground up, it is still worthwhile for achieving positive long term results.
If a relationship continues with a law firm while there is constant conflict, it could be a big stressor point on top of everything they are already going through. But how do you make this switch happen practically? And how do I know when to make the switch if any?
Let’s start by looking at some of the clear signs you can look for that can indicate that it’s time to make a change.
When Should I Switch To A Different Personal Injury Lawyer?
Depending on what kind of person you are, confronting your current lawyer on certain issues may be easy, or it may be very difficult. Regardless, some signs can’t be ignored when it comes to assessing your current lawyer. Signs that include:
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Isn’t Keeping You Updated
Personal injury cases can sometimes take a long time to resolve, and having constant contact with your attorney during this time just isn’t a reality. While everyday communication isn’t part of the equation, you should be receiving regular updates and basic information on what’s happening in your case.
Your lawyer should also be giving you a clear timeline for any of the next steps you will be taking all along the way. If this is something you aren’t getting from your personal injury lawyer, you should start researching new options right away.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Isn’t Answering Your Questions
One of the great things about having an lawyer with years of experience and expertise is that they can handle any of the technical or complicated legal matters that we aren’t able to understand. At the same time, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to ask your attorney any questions about your case.
An attorney that works for you should be able to handle any questions that you have and give you an answer that is uncomplicated, clear and concise. If instead, they are ignoring you, brushing your question to the side, making you feel unintelligent or aren’t answering any of your phone calls, it’s probably time to find a new lawyer.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Isn’t Your Main Contact
When you are spending this much money on hiring lawyer you should be able to speak to your personal injury lawyer. Sometimes, law firms will give you the workaround and have you speak to almost everyone except the lawyer that you have hired.
This leaves you frustrated and misinformed, which probably means that your case isn’t getting the proper personal attention that it deserves.
Instead of just dealing with all of the negative side-effects of this kind of relationship, choose to find a lawyer who will value you and your case.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Is Making Frequent Mistakes
Personal injury cases can have many variables, which means a lot of mistakes can be made. Situations occur like the law firm asking again for documents that you have already sent it, or they forget to send you a copy of the pleading. Things happen and this is understandable in a proceeding of this nature.
However, a firm that is constantly making mistakes like failing to send information, losing certain documents, or procrastinating on important issues means that they aren’t managing your case efficiently or effectively.
These types of mistakes can end up costing you dearly if they occur in the courtroom or with the opposing counsel. If you are seeing signs of frequent mistakes from your lawyer, it’s time to look for a firm that will take your case seriously.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Doesn’t Treat You With Respect
In a personal injury case, you will not get the information that you require to feel secure about your case unless you feel completely comfortable talking to the attorney that you have hired.
If there is a disconnection or misunderstanding with your attorney, they may not hear or understand vital information that you are needing to pass on to them.
Texting or calling your attorney shouldn’t give you anxiety. If you are hesitant to give your attorney a call or you are withholding information because you are afraid of what the reaction will be, it’s time to find an attorney who will respect you and make you feel as comfortable as possible.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Isn’t Making Progress
Any personal injury case can take a significant amount of time depending on the situation, so the progression of a case is relative.
Regardless, if you are getting the sense that your lawyer isn’t prioritizing your case or doesn’t have the skill set to move your case to the next step, it’s a good idea to view this as a red flag and move on to the next attorney.
What Makes A Good Personal Injury Lawyer?
Now that we have highlighted some of the red flags to look for in your attorney, what are some of the things that make a good personal injury lawyer? When looking for your new attorney remember that:
A Good Personal Injury Lawyer Knows The Law
The law is complicated and it’s always changing. One of the best traits of a personal injury lawyer is that they can stay up-to-date regarding statutory changes and recent legal precedent.
They also make a point to stay active in bar associations that are related to their field and regularly participate in continuing legal education.
You should be able to know whether or not your lawyer is knowledgeable about the law by listening to the way that they talk about your case. Lawyers like this won’t give you shallow assurances but will talk about facts, statistics, and layout the process for their clients in a clear way.
A Good Personal Injury Lawyer Has Experience
When hiring a lawyer for your personal injury case, you most certainly don’t always need someone who has been practicing for 30 years to be able to get successful results at a trial.
However, this doesn’t always mean that your situation should be a charity case for up and coming lawyers either.
You must hire a personal injury lawyer that has at least some previous trial experience. The more cases that they have solved that are related to your case, the better they will be at solving yours.
A Good Personal Injury Lawyer Is Honest
Promises, flattery and smooth talk are all easy to fall for, but at the end of it all, you want to hire a lawyer who will when the case.
The best lawyers in the industry are those that choose to be very upfront and honest with all of their clients. Not just when things are going well, but when the outcome is not looking promising either.
When you are potentially dealing with months of work on a case, honesty goes much further than flattery.
How Do I Find The Right Personal Injury Lawyer?
So now that you know more about what makes a good personal injury lawyer, how do you find one? Here are a few simple recommendations that you will be able to use today:
Find The Right Personal Injury Lawyer Through Friends & Acquaintances
One of the most basic and quick ways to look for a new personal injury lawyer is to reach out to your friends and acquaintances. Many are surprised to find that so many people have been in similar situations and have used an attorney that they were pleased with.
Find The Right Personal Injury Lawyer Through One You Already Know
If you have used a lawyer in the past, or if you are acquainted with one through other gatherings or functions, they may be great at what they do. They may be perfect for the job, or they might be able to recommend someone if they don’t think they are the right fit for your case.
Find The Right Personal Injury Lawyer Through Lawyer Directories
Advertising directories are also a great way to search for lawyers. You will be able to find many attorneys with education, experience and see each of their fee structures. Take some time to research a couple of different directories to find the best fit for you and your case.
