After being injured in a car accident, you may decide to hire a lawyer. Though most accident survivors stay with the same lawyer, some may consider working with someone different. If you are in this situation, you have the right to pick the legal counsel you want. This means you can work with a different lawyer than the one who is currently representing your car accident case.
Why Should You Switch Car Accident Lawyers?
Sometimes, your personality and your lawyer’s personality do not match. No matter what you do, you may feel like your lawyer is not listening or understanding you. You may like your lawyer but feel they are overloaded and not communicating well or moving your case along as expected.
How Do You Switch to a Different Car Accident Lawyer?
Before you switch to a different car accident lawyer, you may want to make an effort to talk with your current lawyer about your concerns. Your discussion may not produce any new revelations but can lay the groundwork for a change. You should not fire your lawyer without having another lawyer. That way, you will remain represented by legal counsel and will not have to represent yourself.
After you have decided to look for a new car accident lawyer, set up a few initial consultations. During the initial consultations, make it clear that although you have a lawyer, you are unsatisfied with their services. Be prepared to walk the new lawyer through your case. This may seem tedious, but it is essential so the new lawyer has all the information necessary to move forward.
When you find a new lawyer, you will be asked to sign a contract with them. The contract names the new lawyer as your counsel. Then, they can notify your former lawyer and the courts of the change. Ideally, this switch will not affect the outcome of your case, however, you may owe your former lawyer compensation. If you retained that lawyer on a contingency basis and your new lawyer gets damages for you, your former lawyer may receive a portion of the damages to pay for completed work.
When Are You Not Allowed to Switch Car Accident Lawyers?
Generally, you can change your car accident lawyer any time, with two exceptions. The first is if the court feels that getting a different lawyer will prolong the case unnecessarily. The court has the right to deny your request to change lawyers in that situation. The second exception is if your new car accident lawyer has a conflict of interest. For example, the attorney cannot be working on a different case with the at-fault individual or entity you are suing.
Media Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Will Protect Your Best Interests
You deserve to feel comfortable with your car accident lawyer. If you are not satisfied with the legal advice you are getting from your current lawyer, speak with one of our experienced Media car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. To schedule an initial consultation, call us at 610-565-3701 or contact us online. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.