Can You Fire Your Truck Accident Attorney?
If You’ve Been in a Truck Accident, You Deserve a Lawyer Who Will Fight for You!
Getting in an accident with a commercial truck puts you at an automatic disadvantage, even if you weren’t at fault. Trucking companies deal with accidents like these all the time, and they’ll do everything they can to avoid paying any more money than they have to.
To give you the best possible chance for getting fair compensation, you need to have an experienced, committed truck accident lawyer in your corner. But unfortunately, not all attorneys will give your case the same level of care and attention.
If your Dunwoody truck accident attorney is not meeting your expectations, it may be time to fire them and find someone else who will.
Here are a few key reasons why you may want to fire your truck lawyer.
4 Reasons to Consider Firing Your Truck Lawyer
1. Incompetence or Lack of Expertise
Every area of the law requires a different set of knowledge and skill sets, so not all attorneys are prepared to competently handle personal injury cases.
And even within that specialty, truck accidents require a different level of skill and strategy than your typical fender bender or accident between two cars.
If your attorney is not well-versed in the specificity of truck accidents, it may be time to find someone else who is. Look for a truck accident lawyer who has a successful track record of settlements in truck accident cases.
2. Lack of Communication or Responsiveness
You shouldn’t have to wait days to hear back from your lawyer when you have a question. And if they’re not even answering your calls on time, how can you be confident they’re giving your case the time and attention it needs?
If you’re waiting for more than 48 hours every time you contact your lawyer — or if you’re only interacting with paralegals instead of the attorney who’s handling your case — it may be time to look for a new representative.
3. Disagreement About Case Strategy
It’s a major red flag if your attorney hasn’t taken the time to sit down with you and discuss your preferred case strategy.
Every individual has different comfort levels with litigation and other legal avenues, so if they haven’t taken the time to talk about your goals and needs, they’re not doing their job as well as they should.
You deserve to feel confident that your attorney is representing your best interests and not just working for a paycheck.
4. Ethical Concerns or Conflicts of Interest
If you have any concerns at all that your attorney is acting unethically or that they have a conflict of interest that might prevent them from representing your best interests, make sure to listen to your gut.
Talk to your lawyer about any questions or concerns you have, and if they can’t answer your questions satisfactorily, it’s probably time to move on.
Follow These Steps When Firing a Truck Lawyer
If you think you want to fire your attorney, you shouldn’t let fear of new expenses hold you back. In most personal injury cases, you don’t have to pay anything extra to fire your first lawyer and hire a second one, as long as the trucking company’s insurance has not made you an offer yet.
If an offer has been made, your options may be limited depending on the contract you signed. Consider consulting a second attorney to figure out the best options available to you.
If you think your concerns can be addressed by talking to your lawyer about them, don’t be afraid to initiate a conversation. You’re paying them for a service, so if you have questions or concerns about that service, you should ask them.
But if you’re confident you want to fire your attorney — and you’ve taken the time to understand the terms of your agreement and any financial obligations — here are a few things you should do:
- Put it in Writing: Send an email telling your lawyer you’re terminating your service, explain why, and ask the attorney to notify you when you can come and pick up your file
- Confirm the Letter Was Received: After you send your email, follow up with the office the next day to confirm that your letter was received.
- Get Your Case File: Under most personal injury contracts, you’re entitled to access your full case file, so don’t be afraid to ask for it!
- Notify Insurance: If you’re in the process of filing an insurance claim, you’ll need to notify the insurance company that your former lawyer is no longer representing you.
Finding a New Dunwoody Truck Lawyer
Don’t let one negative experience convince you that there aren’t great attorneys out there who will handle your case with care.
Take some time to research attorneys in your area — and make sure to look for someone with both personal injury experience and success in previous truck accident cases. Online reviews are a great way to understand the experience you might have if you work with a specific attorney.
Once you’ve found someone who seems like a good fit, give them a call! And make sure to come prepared with questions for your initial meeting.
If there’s something your previous attorney did that made you especially unsatisfied, don’t be afraid to bring that up. You can learn a lot about a lawyer’s personality and commitment to your case in that first meeting. They may even be able to advise you about how to proceed with firing your current attorney.
If you’re in the Dunwoody area and looking for a new truck accident attorney, Nick Martin is an excellent option! He’s committed to being responsive to your needs and concerns. And unlike some big box attorneys, he’s personally involved in every case he takes on.
Give him a call today at 770-450-6155 or fill out this form to receive a free consultation.
Nick enjoys helping the people of Atlanta with their personal injury and fair labor issues. When he’s not working, Nick can be found woodworking, competitive rifle shooting, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with his family.
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