Firing Your Personal Injury Attorney

You're the client, and hence, you're the boss. If you are dissatisfied with a lawyer for any reason, it's your job to end the relationship. And while this task may sound simple enough, it can turn into a complex ordeal due to the attorney's superior knowledge of the legal system, you individual case and the point that your case is currently at. In order to fire your personal injury attorney, you will need to be considerate and careful. In this article, we will walk you through the process.

Step 1 - Take a look at your account invoice and payment agreement. If you were asked to sign an agreement upon hiring a lawyer, the document may provide you with details regarding how to go about terminating the relationship. In the majority of personal injury cases, the lawyer is paid out on a contingency basis. This means that they will only receive payment if the case garners any winnings via negotiations or in court. Ask your lawyer for an invoice and be prompt in paying it off. If your current bill is already larger than what you are able to pay, the lawyer will be paid out of the amount you win with another lawyer.

Step 2 - Find and hire another attorney. In order to avoid being without proper representation and missing an important deadline, you will need to obtain the service of another lawyer asap. This can help with any issues you may be having with the previous lawyer, particularly regarding costs and fees.

Step 3 - Cover your bases and send out a certified letter. By ending your relationship in writing, you can avoid any confusion regarding the expectations you may have had regarding the lawyer's services in addition to cost and fee claims.

Step 4 - Get in touch with the court. If you are currently at the trial stage, the court and all other parties will need to be notified of the representation change. The court may have to dismiss the previous lawyer formally, depending on how far along your case has gotten. Likewise, the new personal injury attorney may require admittance to the case through a series of pleadings. Though this may sound like a hassle, your new lawyer should be able to take care of the process for you.

Step 5 - Obtain your case file. If you're all paid up on your legal bills, you have a right to your case file, as it is now your property. Additionally, your new lawyer will need to review the files to continue forward on your case. Where bill disputes are concerned, obtaining this file may be an issue. If you happen to find yourself in this type of predicament, request that your new lawyer aid in the negotiations and make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding their shares of the eventual settlement and compensation. Your file can be shipped by the previous personal injury attorney, or be picked up in person.