How Do I Fire My Car Accident Lawyer and Can I Change Lawyers?
In the chaos after a serious car accident, people sometimes make mistakes and hire the wrong lawyer. This realization usually dawns on the client two or three weeks after the crash when they still have not spoken to their injury lawyer and the lawyers assistant keeps telling the client everything is fine. One of the easiest ways to know that you have chosen the wrong lawyer is this scenario: If you have health insurance and the lawyer sent you to a chiropractor, you should fire the lawyer immediately. Chiropractors generally do not accept health insurance and will instead expect to get paid out of your settlement, which costs you more money. That problem is in addition to the problem that insurance companies do not take chiropractic care seriously.
Let's assume you made up your mind that you hired the wrong attorney and now you want to fire your injury lawyer. How do I fire my lawyer and what do I owe them if I do? ,
How to Fire Your Injury Lawyer in the First Month
The law says that an injury lawyer is entitled to be paid for the value of the work they did unless there is an offer on the table. In the first month, it is unlikely there will be an offer so you will only owe the lawyer money based on the amount of time they spent working on your case. In month 1, that amount is very small. The best part is, if you fire your lawyer and hire another one, the money owed to the first lawyer comes out of the same 33.3% attorneys fee portion. In other words, if you hire lawyer 1 and fire them and then hire lawyer two, each of their contracts will have provided that they are entitled to 33.3% of the gross recovery pre-suit. (unless you are getting ripped off by a lawyer charging 40% fees pre-suit) So, when you fire lawyer 1, you pay them nothing at that time. If down the road, your car accident lawyer settles the case and recovers $25,000.00 for you, 1/3 of the money goes to lawyer 2 and he or she then has to deal with paying out to lawyer 1. It is not your problem. In summary, it does not cost anything extra to fire your first lawyer and hire a second one.
You Have a Low Offer and Want to Fire Your Car Accident Lawyer
Once an offer is made by the car insurance company, the lawyer's contract will provide that they are entitled to their fee no matter what. You cannot fire the lawyer and accept the offer because they will assert an attorney's lien with the insurance company. In this situation, it is difficult to get another injury lawyer involved. The best thing to do is, pick up the phone and call around and get a sampling of legal opinions. There are a number of low grade injury attorneys in Atlanta that regularly underprice and mishandle files. Sometimes, a more experienced lawyer can spot the value in the case or develop a stronger liability theory.
How Do I Fire My Injury Lawyer?
Simply send them a fax stating:
"Dear Lawyer
I am no longer in need of your services. (If there was a reason like failure to return calls, laziness, etc, insert that here ) I have decided to handle my case with another attorney and I will need to pick up my file within 14 days. Please telephone me at xxx-xxxx when my file is ready to be picked up.
Sincerely
Unhappy Client"
Then telephone their office to confirm receipt of your letter the next day. You should also advise the insurance company in writing that the lawyer no longer represents you. An unscrupulous lawyer may try to call and settle your case without your permission.
If you have questions feel free to contact us.
Let's assume you made up your mind that you hired the wrong attorney and now you want to fire your injury lawyer. How do I fire my lawyer and what do I owe them if I do? ,
How to Fire Your Injury Lawyer in the First Month
The law says that an injury lawyer is entitled to be paid for the value of the work they did unless there is an offer on the table. In the first month, it is unlikely there will be an offer so you will only owe the lawyer money based on the amount of time they spent working on your case. In month 1, that amount is very small. The best part is, if you fire your lawyer and hire another one, the money owed to the first lawyer comes out of the same 33.3% attorneys fee portion. In other words, if you hire lawyer 1 and fire them and then hire lawyer two, each of their contracts will have provided that they are entitled to 33.3% of the gross recovery pre-suit. (unless you are getting ripped off by a lawyer charging 40% fees pre-suit) So, when you fire lawyer 1, you pay them nothing at that time. If down the road, your car accident lawyer settles the case and recovers $25,000.00 for you, 1/3 of the money goes to lawyer 2 and he or she then has to deal with paying out to lawyer 1. It is not your problem. In summary, it does not cost anything extra to fire your first lawyer and hire a second one.
You Have a Low Offer and Want to Fire Your Car Accident Lawyer
Once an offer is made by the car insurance company, the lawyer's contract will provide that they are entitled to their fee no matter what. You cannot fire the lawyer and accept the offer because they will assert an attorney's lien with the insurance company. In this situation, it is difficult to get another injury lawyer involved. The best thing to do is, pick up the phone and call around and get a sampling of legal opinions. There are a number of low grade injury attorneys in Atlanta that regularly underprice and mishandle files. Sometimes, a more experienced lawyer can spot the value in the case or develop a stronger liability theory.
How Do I Fire My Injury Lawyer?
Simply send them a fax stating:
"Dear Lawyer
I am no longer in need of your services. (If there was a reason like failure to return calls, laziness, etc, insert that here ) I have decided to handle my case with another attorney and I will need to pick up my file within 14 days. Please telephone me at xxx-xxxx when my file is ready to be picked up.
Sincerely
Unhappy Client"
Then telephone their office to confirm receipt of your letter the next day. You should also advise the insurance company in writing that the lawyer no longer represents you. An unscrupulous lawyer may try to call and settle your case without your permission.
If you have questions feel free to contact us.