Switching Personal Injury Attorneys
When you hire a personal injury attorney, you put your trust in them. You put your future in the attorney’s hands. You trust that the attorney will work on your behalf to get you the justice and damages you deserve. However, sometimes, the relationship between a personal injury attorney and their client does not go as expected. You might find yourself in a situation where you are unsatisfied with your attorney’s representation. So what happens if you are not content with your personal injury lawyer? Can you switch attorneys? What are the consequences of switching a personal injury attorney? And if you can switch an attorney, what is the process for doing so? In the following sections, we answer all these questions.
Can You Switch Personal Injury Attorneys?
In most cases, you can switch personal injury attorneys at any stage of your personal injury case. In other words, you have the right to decide that you want to stop working with one attorney and start working with another. However, deciding to switch personal injury lawyers is a huge decision that should not be taken lightly.
Reasons to Switch Personal Injury Attorneys
There are multiple reasons people change personal injury lawyers. However, not every reason is a valid one. The following are some of the valid reasons why you might want to switch lawyers;
- Lack of communication: If your attorney is not returning your emails, calls, or texts, you are justified to want to find another attorney.
- Inexperience: Discovering that your lawyer lacks the necessary experience to handle your case effectively is a valid reason to want to swatch lawyers.
- Unprofessional behavior: If, for example, your attorney is missing deadlines, it is a clear sign you need to find another legal representative.
- Lack of progress: If it seems as though your case is not going anywhere, it may be time to find another attorney.
- Lack of trust: For your relationship with your lawyer to work, there must be trust. If you doubt your lawyer, it may be time for a change.
What Are the Consequences of Switching Attorneys?
As with any other decision, switching personal injury attorneys can have several consequences. Changing personal injury attorneys has both positive and negative consequences. While hiring a more competent attorney can significantly improve your chances of success, switching attorneys can cause delays. You might also incur additional costs associated with the switch. However, the long-term benefits of hiring a more competent attorney outweigh the short-term inconveniences.
What Is the Process of Switching Attorneys?
Once you have decided to switch personal injury lawyers, you need to start searching for another lawyer. Ensure you schedule consultations with a few potential attorneys before making your pick. After finding a new attorney, notify your current attorney in writing and request that they transfer your files to your new lawyer. Ensure your new attorney receives all relevant files. If you have filed a court case, you will need to do a substitution of counsel. This is a formal notice informing the court and other parties that you are switching lawyers.
Contact a London & Southeast Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney
If you would like to schedule a consultation with our London & Southeast Kentucky personal injury attorneys at Cessna & George Law Firm, call us at 606-770-5400 or complete our online contact form.
