Can I fire my personal injury attorney?
Yes, you can fire your attorney. If you’re reading this post, it’s probably because you’re considering leaving your attorney. That’s okay, and it’s within your legal rights to fire your attorney at any time for any reason or perhaps no reason at all.
Reasons to Fire Your Attorney
Lack of communication
Is your attorney not returning your calls and emails promptly? Are you being left in the dark about the progress of your case? Lack of communication is one of the most common reasons people fire their attorneys, and rightfully so. However, there are ZERO excuses for poor communication. Lawyers are extremely busy, and you’re certainly not their only client. However, before signing your case, they knew what their current workload was, and it’s their job to ensure they can handle all the complexities of managing multiple cases simultaneously. With that being said, good communication sets the tone for an excellent attorney-client relationship, and if you’re not getting that, it’s probably time to consider going to another firm.
Underprepared and unorganized
Their time is money, and so is yours. Does your attorney often “misplace” documents or come to your meetings unprepared or late? RED FLAG! Your attorney should always be on time, organized, and ready to go. All files, documents, and evidence should be readily and easily accessible, physically or digitally. If they don’t, that shows how seriously (or not) they take their job and your case.
Beware of the Jack/Jill of all trades
If you’ve been in a car accident, you should speak with an attorney specializing in handling JUST car wrecks. Please beware of the attorney who handles divorce, bankruptcy, worker’s compensation, and home closings…AND the occasional car wreck case—the jack of all trades.
Attorneys are like doctors:
If your teeth hurt, you would not go to a podiatrist and likewise, if your foot hurts, you would not go see a dentist. You should consult an attorney who only handle car wrecks (stay away from attorneys who handle divorces, bankruptcies, DUI defenses, home closings… as they are Jack of all trades and will not have the depth of knowledge in handling car wreck claims) to know your rights regarding:
Your property damage claim,your bodily injury claim and the other driver’s obligations (extent of liability coverage limits and your combined under-insured coverage limits within your household including any resident relative) before accepting any settlement.
Unreasonable Billing Practices:
A wise man once said, “Greed is the root of all evil.” That quote applies to your lawyer as well. Unfortunately, some lawyers can be greedy and are driven solely by money. Keep in mind lawyers are paid on a “contingency basis,” meaning they get paid a percentage of the damages you receive. In addition, they may charge you for additional expenses that come up during the process of your case. However, if you notice that you’re being charged an absurd amount for simple tasks or the lawyer takes home more money than you will get, you should probably explore better options to serve you better.
Unethical Behavior, Legal Malpractice, or Misconduct:
Your attorney has taken an oath to uphold specific standards and ethics. Suppose they do anything such as mishandling funds, exposing confidential information, failing to inform you about settlement offers, conflict of interest, or advising you to do something you shouldn’t. In that case, they’re breaking their code of ethics.
How to Fire Your Attorney
Firing your attorney is pretty simple. All you have to do is send an official letter or email stating that you no longer need their services and have them send you or your new attorney your complete file.
What makes 770 GoodLaw different
At 770 GoodLaw, you can fire our firm at any time. Our contract has a clause that says if you’re not 100% satisfied during the first 30 days, you can fire us for any reason or no reason. We will forward your file to another attorney or you and not charge you a dime (fees or costs).
At 770 GoodLaw, we have systems to ensure clients are satisfied. If there is an issue, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. Every client has the CEO’s, Alex Nguyen’s personal phone number, and can reach him anytime. Two, we survey every one of our clients every month, and it’s a report to management of how our client advisor and assigned attorney are doing on your case. Whether things are done right and on time as promised. If it’s not, we want to know about it so we can address the problem. The survey is in place to let the executive team know if every client is feeling heard and fought for.
In addition, 770 GoodLaw is the only law firm in Georgia that guarantees that the clients will take home more money than the attorneys.
Have you been in a car wreck? Call and schedule your free consultation today at 770-869-2325.