After suffering serious injuries in a car accident, you may choose to seek compensation from the driver responsible for the accident. This compensation usually comes from the driver’s insurance company, although in some situations, the driver may be personally liable for the accident. Hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle the case is usually advised whether the case goes to court or is settled and choosing the right attorney to handle the case is crucial.
There are certain things a good attorney should do when handling a case for a client, including, communicating with the client about developments in the client’s case; and communicating any settlement offers to the client in order for the client to make the final decision on whether to accept the settlement or not. When the attorney fails to communicate effectively, the client may lose faith in the attorney’s work.
When it comes to choosing the right attorney, it is a good idea to meet with several attorneys for initial interviews before settling on one attorney. When preparing for this initial meeting, it is important to write down as many questions as possible in order to ensure that you get a good idea of what kind of relationship you will have with the attorney. During this initial meeting, you can ask about how the attorney communicates, and how often he will update you on the case. This would also be the time to ask about the attorney’s fees and costs for expenses incurred in the course of representation.
If after hiring the attorney it becomes clear that the attorney-client relationship is breaking down, you can decide to fire the attorney and move forward with another attorney. Unless the settlement has been finalized, a client has the right to change counsel. Changing counsel later on in the process may cause some delays, but if the client is not being adequately represented, the change may be in the client’s best interest. Only the client can decide that it is time for a new attorney. The new attorney will notify the defendant that the client has changed attorneys and handle the negotiations moving forward.
Attorneys are governed by professional rules of conduct that outline how attorneys should handle client relations. If an attorney fails to communicate with the client, or takes a settlement without consulting the client, the client can report the attorney and initiate an investigation that could lead to disciplinary action. The client can also take legal action against the attorney, especially if the attorney has misappropriated client funds and failed to account for the funds.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Trying to find a personal injury attorney to handle your case should not add stress to an already stressful situation. At Vocelle & Berg, LLP, we can help you figure out how to proceed with your personal injury case. If you are injured in a car accident and do not have any idea whether to file a lawsuit or accept a settlement offer, contact an experienced car accident injury lawyer at Vocelle & Berg, LLP, in Vero Beach, Florida for a free consultation.
Resource:
floridabar.org/rules/rrtfb/