Getting Along With Your Personal Injury Attorney
When an accident causes you to seek legal help, who you hire to represent your interests may greatly influence your case. You must locate an experienced injury lawyer who you trust, feel comfortable with, and who knows what they are doing when it comes to your type of case. Read on to learn more about getting along with your personal injury lawyer and how to handle it when you things don't work out.
Will the Attorney Take Your Case?
Despite the advertisements on television, not all personal injury cases are worthy of pursuing. It's difficult for most laymen to know what constitutes a strong accident case, however, so a careful evaluation by an attorney is necessary. Most personal injury attorneys are paid from a percentage of your case winnings. That money can come from a settlement with the insurance company or from a court judgment. The attorney will review the facts of your case to determine whether or not to represent you.
Communication and Your Personal Injury Case
Personal injury cases can go on for a surprisingly long time. Even if you end up settling your case, which is a lot faster than taking a case to court, you can expect to deal with this matter for months rather than weeks. This means that your patience and your attorney-client relationship can be tested. Accidents can affect a victim's life in an untold and widespread manner. You will undoubtedly be suffering from your injuries, but your financial situation can become pretty dire as well. If your case seems to be stalled, it's vital that you stay in communication with your attorney. Progress can be slow when negotiating and investigating an accident, but make sure you check in your attorney on a weekly basis.
When Things Go Wrong
If you become dissatisfied with the progress of your case, it is possible to get a second opinion from another attorney. In most cases, the potential new attorney will tell you that nothing more can be done and that nothing could have been done differently. If you do decide to change lawyers, the old attorney and the new one will do what is known as a "hand-off". The old attorney will share the case information with the new one to get them up to speed. You should realize that you will still owe your old attorney for any work done. In most cases, the funds to pay them for the work they did comes from your settlement. You might want to consider the financial implications of changing attorneys before you act too hastily.
Speak to your attorney about any doubts you have about your case to find out more.