If you have a car accident case, and you are at a point where you are considering firing your lawyer and hiring another one, you should first think why you are doing this. Here are some common problems between client and lawyer that may force the client to think about firing their lawyer:
- You doubt the lawyer’s competence
- You have a poor relationship with the lawyer
- Your lawyer does not communicate with you (does not return your calls or emails)
- You no longer trust the lawyer
- You doubt the lawyer’s ethics or judgement
If are facing any of the aforementioned problems with your lawyer, you may consider firing him. Here is some more insight into these problems.
Your doubt the lawyer’s competence
This can probably be the most important reason why one would consider changing the lawyers. The job of your lawyer is to get you compensation for your car accident injuries, but if he/she is not competent and is unable to get a satisfactory result, you will likely consider firing him/her. However, for the average person it is hard to evaluate if a lawyer is competent or not, so it is important that you take an objective approach. It would be a good idea to seek a meeting and then request that your attorney address your concerns. A competent, experienced and confident lawyer would meet you and answer your questions objectively.
You can always ask to see your file. A good lawyer would never hesitate to show you your file and would have nothing to hide or fear. Once you have discussed your doubts and problems with your lawyer, you will have to make a judgement based on your knowledge and common sense. Ask yourself questions such as “did the lawyer sound confident or was he lost?” “Did he answer all questions correctly?”
Poor client and lawyer relationship
This is one of those problems that can probably be worked upon, and is not necessarily a reason enough to fire your lawyer. Even if the lawyer is not friendly or warm, he/she may still be a great lawyer. So, as long as you trust your lawyer and believe that he/she is a god lawyer to handle your case, then you should keep the lawyer even he/she does not come across as a very good person.
In short, if you are just looking for a sound professional relationship with a lawyer who can get you the compensation that you deserve, then you may consider keeping your lawyer even if he is cold and not-too-friendly. However, if you think it is important to have a good personal relationship with the client, you may consider changing him/her.
Lack of communication
If your lawyer is not returning calls or you cannot get in touch with him/her in any way, then it is a sign that something is amiss. It can mean that the lawyer has too many, is understaffed, or he/she or the staff is incompetent. If the lawyer is not returning calls or emails, then you should start looking for another car accident lawyer.
You don’t trust the lawyer any more
It is important that the client trusts the lawyer. If you don’t trust the lawyer anymore then it makes no sense to carry on the relationship. You should hire your lawyer and find another competent and experienced personal injury lawyer for your case.
