Is It Time to Find a New Personal Injury Lawyer?

Posted on March 11, 2025 by lvnvlawyer

You can switch personal injury lawyers if you feel it’s the right decision for your case. Even if you have a contingency fee agreement in place, you might owe your previous attorney for the work they’ve done up to that point. Before switching attorneys, review your current agreement with your lawyer to ensure there are no outstanding financial obligations, such as unpaid fees for services already rendered. 

Regardless, if you’re not satisfied with the legal representation you’re receiving, this shouldn’t stop you from hiring a new lawyer. The following five situations could be a sign that you need to switch to a new personal injury attorney:

  1. Poor Communication

You deserve to receive regular updates on the progress of your personal injury case, particularly when a significant development has occurred. It can be frustrating to chase an attorney for an update on a case only to receive a one-word reply when you ask what is happening with your personal injury claim.

A lack of communication could indicate several problems. For example, your attorney may be too busy to devote the time your case requires, or there could be an issue with your case that the attorney does not want to deal with.

  1. Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when an attorney has a pre-existing or current relationship with a party that could result in an adverse interest for a client. For example, perhaps your attorney previously represented one of the defendants in your case, or your attorney owns a share in the company you are suing. A conflict of interest can create a situation where an attorney does not act in the client’s best interest.

  1. Inadequate Experience

Discussing an attorney’s experience before hiring the law firm is always good. Ideally, an attorney should have extensive experience handling cases involving the same issue as your case.

For example, if your case involves a slip and fall accident, search for an attorney with experience handling premises liability claims. On the other hand, if you were in an accident caused by a commercial truck, you want to hire a law firm with a successful track record of pursuing truck accident claims.

  1. Missing Deadlines

Many personal injury cases are settled through negotiations with insurance companies and the other parties. However, some cases may require litigation. The statute of limitations for your case is a strict deadline. You could lose the right to pursue a legal claim if you miss the filing deadline.

Thus, if you notice that your attorney is missing deadlines now, it could indicate that they might miss other critical deadlines. 

  1. Lack of Progress

A personal injury case can take several months to resolve, and some cases could take more than a year to settle. The timeline depends on the factors involved.

Possible reasons why a personal injury case may be moving slowly include:

  • You sustained severe injuries and have not completed medical treatment.
  • There are disputes regarding the cause of an accident.
  • Your attorney has hired expert witnesses to evaluate a specific issue in your case.
  • The insurance company has not completed its investigation.
  • There are disputes related to the value of your damages.
  • The court schedule is busy, and your case has not come up for a hearing yet.

However, if your case stalls without a valid explanation, it could indicate a problem with your attorney. Your lawyer may not have a solid legal strategy for your case, or they may ignore your case in favor of working on other cases.

It could be time to switch attorneys if your attorney cannot explain why your case is not progressing.

Don’t Hesitate to Talk With Another Personal Injury Lawyer

There could be other problems you encounter with a personal injury case. For example, your attorney may pressure you to accept a low settlement offer, hand your case to an assistant, or refrain from answering your questions. If you feel uneasy or have doubts about your attorney, it is time to ask for a second opinion. 

Hiring the right personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. If you are unsatisfied with your current lawyer and attempts to resolve the issue have failed, schedule a free consultation with another personal injury attorney.