One of the most important decisions you need to make after suffering an injury caused by another’s negligence is who is going to represent you.
Generally, those who hire attorneys recover more compensation compared to those who do not. However, you need an attorney who has experience with cases like yours and one who is prepared to go to court if necessary.
Unfortunately, sometimes injury victims hire an attorney and are unhappy with the representation the attorney provides. They may think they made a poor decision and wonder if they can make a change.
Below, learn more about switching attorneys in a middle of a claim. If you have questions about your injury claim, or are considering making a switch in the middle of a claim, give Schmidt Kramer a call. We provide legal help with no upfront cost.
What You Need to Know About Switching Lawyers
You have the right to change Harrisburg personal injury lawyers, even in the middle of a claim. As a matter of fact, people change lawyers all the time.
That said, there are some things you need to know before making this change. First, you want to make sure you have good reason for making the switch. If you are struggling to reach an attorney or he or she does not return your calls quickly, that may be a good reason to make a change.
If you notice inconsistencies in things your attorney tells you, or he or she misses deadlines or continually asks the insurance company for more time, those may be good reasons to make a change.
If you find out the attorney you chose has not handled cases like yours before, or never takes cases to court, you may want to make a change. While it is true most cases settle, and yours will likely be settled, it is important to hire an attorney with trial experience. Insurance companies know when attorneys do not take cases to court, and they may be less likely to offer fair compensation.
If you are concerned about how long it is taking to reach a conclusion, you should discuss it with your current attorney. Unfortunately, it can take a significant amount of time for a case to be resolved. This might not be a good reason to decide to make a change.
How do I Make the Switch?
You can write a letter to your current attorney explaining that you are changing attorneys. You do not need to give a reason if you do not want.
You should also ask for a copy of your case file, including any documents that were created by your attorney and evidence that has already been collected. You are entitled to this information.
It is important to not delay notifying the first attorney you hired. You need this person to stop working on your case because he or she is entitled to a percentage of your settlement to cover the work he or she does.
Will the First Attorney Claim Part of My Settlement?
When you hired an attorney, he or she likely discussed how he or she would be paid. Most injury attorneys operate on contingency, which means they are paid at the end of the legal process. Generally, when you hire an attorney, you sign a contract stating what percentage of the settlement will be used to cover the attorney’s costs.
If you change attorneys in the middle of a claim, the first attorney may still be owed compensation at the end of the claim. This would be used to compensate him or her for the work he or she did on your case before you hired a new attorney. Your new attorney should be able to handle this for you.
Call Us with Your Legal Questions
There is no risk in calling our office to schedule your free initial consultation. This meeting provides an opportunity to ask us questions about the legal process and for us to learn more about your claim.
Schmidt Kramer has a proven track record of recovering compensation for injury victims throughout Pennsylvania. We have obtained more than $100 million on behalf of our clients over more than 30 years.
We are ready to take your call. Phone: (717) 888-8888