Reasons a Personal Injury Attorney Might Decline Your Case
It can be discouraging if you have taken the time to reach out to a personal injury attorney about your case, only for them to turn you down. Contrary to popular belief, personal injury attorneys are not “ambulance chasers’ who take every case that comes their way. Personal injury attorneys carefully evaluate each case before deciding whether to take it. There are various reasons why a personal injury lawyer might turn down your case. However, it is important to note that if a personal injury lawyer refuses to take your case, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care about what happened to you.
So, why would a personal injury attorney decline your case? Below are some main reasons a personal injury attorney might refuse your case.
- Your Case Is Outside of Their Practice Area
One of the main reasons a personal injury attorney might turn you down is because your case is not their area of expertise. Not every personal injury lawyer has experience handling every personal injury case. In such a case, being turned down is a good thing. You want to work with an attorney with experience handling cases similar to yours. An attorney who does not have experience in your case can jeopardize the outcome of your case.
- Lack of Clear Liability
The success of your personal injury claim rests on being able to prove the other party’s negligence caused your injuries and damages. If the circumstances surrounding your injuries are unclear or it is difficult to prove that another party’s negligence caused your injuries, an attorney might reject your case.
- Statute of Limitations Has Expired
After suffering an injury due to another party’s negligence, you have limited time to file your personal injury claim. This is known as the “statute of limitations.” In Kentucky, you have one year from the date of your injury to file a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer cannot take a case if the statute of limitations has expired.
Sometimes, a lawyer will decline a case if the statute of limitations is nearing expiration because it takes time to build a strong personal injury case. For this reason, it is vital to reach out to an attorney without delay.
- The Lawyer Has a Conflict of Interest
A personal injury attorney might refuse to take your case if accepting it would create a conflict of interest. For example, suppose the attorney has a personal relationship with the at-fault party in your case. In that case, they may refuse to take your case as they may be unable to remain professional and objective. In such cases, it is best for the attorney not to represent you.
- Your case Is Outside the Lawyer’s Jurisdiction
If an attorney is not licensed to practice law in the state you are seeking help, they cannot take your case. In such a case, the lawyer may be able to provide a referral.
- Unavailability of Resources
You might have a good case, but the law firm cannot take your case because of limited time, staff, or financial resources. If a law firm’s resources are stretched too thin, they may reject your case to avoid compromising your case or their other clients.
Contact a London and Southeast Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney
If another law firm has rejected your case and you would like a second opinion, contact our London and Southeast Kentucky personal injury attorneys at Cessna & George Law Firm at 606-770-5400 or by completing our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
Source:
law.cornell.edu/wex/statute_of_limitations
