10 Signs You Need to Hire a New Injury Lawyer

Not Feeling Confident About Your Current Legal Representation?

If you were injured in an accident and hire a personal injury attorney, you should be able to expect that you can trust them to guide you through the entire process. You should be able to expect that they will pick up your calls, know your case when you call, treat you respectfully, and say what they need to say, not just what they think you want to hear. If you are having doubts about whether your attorney is doing a good job for you, it might be time to get a second opinion and possibly a new lawyer.

Notice These Issues? It Might Be Time for a Different Attorney

Just because you notice a small issue with your law firm does not mean that you should head right for the door. You would probably only inconvenience yourself at that rate. But if there are multiple issues that you have brought to the attorney’s attention, and nothing is changing, that’s concerning enough to seriously consider switching to a new law firm.

10 problems that might convince you to look for a new attorney include:

1. Poor communication: One of the most important aspects of a client-attorney relationship is communication. When your attorney fails to communicate with you effectively and clearly, it can harm your confidence in your case and make you feel like you and your lawyer are not on the same page.
2. Inexcusable behavior or crassness: There is no excuse for an attorney being rude to a client. You should never put up with being insulted, belittled, or disrespected. As a legal professional, your attorney should treat you in a respectful and caring manner, especially because they know that you’re going through a lot. If an attorney is rude to their own client, they are likely also rude to the insurance adjuster and opposing counsel, which can be a disaster for trying to resolve your case without the need for litigation.
3. Lack of personal support and representation: When you call the law office, the staff should know who you are and at least some details of your case. If the firm is too big or doesn't care enough about your case, your case could be collecting dust in its filing cabinet.
4. Unanswered and unreturned phone calls: If you continue to leave messages or call your attorney with questions, yet can't seem to get them to pick up or respond, you probably have a big problem. You need an attorney who is willing and ready to communicate with you. At the least, they should be able to set aside a few minutes to call you back in a timely manner, even if all they can say is, “There are no new updates yet, but we’ll let you know when there are.”
5. Lack of information: Do you know the status of your case? Are you unsure of what phase your claim is in? Your attorney should be keeping you informed every step of the way.
6. Unfamiliar staff: If a new staff member is answering the phone every time you call, it may suggest a high turnover rate at the law firm, which can lead to a very disorganized situation that spills over into the cases that the law firm is handling.
7. No response to important emails: Again, if a lawyer fails to communicate through phone or email, it is a serious warning sign that they either don't care or are too busy to dedicate enough time to your case. Either way, it is not the level of legal service that you deserve.
8. Ads for "cheap" or discounted legal services: While it is never bad to work with a firm that offers affordable and reasonable legal services, a law firm that always advertises discounted or “cheap” fees may be doing so because they can’t get clients otherwise. If they are charging well below market rate, that’s a red flag that they are desperate for cases, which could indicate that they do not have a good local reputation.
9. Disciplinary action: You should always check on an attorney's background and their standing with the State Bar of California before hiring them. Do they have a history of being disciplined by the State Bar? If yes, you should be concerned, or at least demand more information about why that happened.
10. Numerous negative online reviews: We live in an age of social media and online reviews that can get you information about a product or service instantly. Though some negative reviews can be vengeful or full of false critiques, many are from honest people who have had a bad experience with a lawyer and want the public to know. If a law firm has many negative reviews, you should reconsider if they are the right firm for you.

It is not too late to find the right legal representative for your case! Give our Los Angeles personal injury law firm a call today at (310) 231-9717 and schedule a FREE second opinion that can help you decide if you would rather work with our attorneys than your current legal representative.