We consider this one of the cardinal sins of personal injury attorneys. When you hire a lawyer, you have a right to get the information you want—and you deserve to feel valued as a client. If that’s not happening, you have options.
Unfortunately, this is also very common. There are many lawyers out there who are perfectly good at the technical side of their job, but not at the human side. This is fine when they work for big corporations, but it’s not okay when they work for injury victims—regular people like you who are facing one of the toughest situations of their life.
When you’ve been injured, or even lost a loved one, you need answers. You deserve to know what’s happening, what to expect, and whether you’re going to recover the money you need. Above all, you need a lawyer who cares.
Below, we’ll cover the two options you have—and what happens if you decide to change lawyers.
Your Two Options When Your Lawyer Isn’t Keeping You Informed
The options are simple: you can ask for more from the lawyer you have now, or you can change lawyers.
- Getting more from your lawyer. Some attorneys are simply busy. They may not realize how frustrated you are. Start by telling them very clearly that you are not getting the answers you need, and you don’t feel they make time for you. Don’t be angry or blaming—just state this in a businesslike way. In the same conversation, tell them you need them to make time for you (and reply to you quickly!) or you will need to consider a different attorney. It’s okay to do this in an email if that’s easier for you.
- Changing lawyers. If your lawyer doesn’t improve, you have the legal right to get a new lawyer. Under the law, your old lawyer must facilitate this change—they will forward all documents and evidence to the new attorney, and they must do so quickly. Most importantly, you will not end up paying more by changing lawyers.
The sad truth is that option #1 doesn’t always work. Many attorneys just don’t have the resources to give you the time you deserve; they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. Others just don’t value customer service. Sometimes you have to fire them and find someone better.
Choosing the lawyer that represents your injury case is one of the most important choices of your life. If your current lawyer isn’t working, replace them.
What happens if I decide to change lawyers?
Here’s how it works:
- Meet with other lawyers first. Take a free consultation and choose one who respects you.
- Your new lawyer will handle the switch. You don’t have to personally fire the old attorney or even talk with them.
- The two lawyers will share one fee. If you win money, the percentage that goes to your legal counsel will be divided between them. In other words, you don’t have to pay anything extra because of the switch.
If your current lawyer isn’t serving your needs, John Foy & Associates can help you. We have the resources and experience to treat our clients right—and we offer a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
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