What to Do if You’re Unhappy With Your Personal Injury Lawyer?

Sometimes, you have to shop around for the right personal injury lawyer in Chandler. While it may feel awkward dealing with a lawyer who isn’t providing you with the care and attention you need, you deserve to work with a lawyer who can exceed your expectations.

If you’re unhappy with your personal injury lawyer in Chandler, you should communicate your concerns to them, seek a second opinion from a different lawyer, consider firing your current lawyer, and potentially report them if necessary.

Your personal injury lawyer should be knowledgeable, professional, and leave you feeling confident. They should be able to advise you on the steps to take after a workplace injury and your options regarding your personal injury settlement.

Unhappy with your current lawyer? Here’s what you can do:

Communicate

If you don’t tell your lawyer you’re unhappy, confused, or frustrated, they might think everything is fine. If they think everything is going well, they won’t change their approach. By telling them how you’re feeling and what you would like to see moving forward, you give them an opportunity to make things right.

We recommend that you put everything in writing. Email your concerns to your lawyer so that there’s a paper trail of your communication; this will also help when you need to refer back to an aspect of this conversation in the future or if you end up needing to report the lawyer for acting unethically.

Seek a Second Opinion

If you’ve given your lawyer some time to improve and still aren’t seeing changes or getting the results you want, it’s time to get a second opinion. Look for other personal injury lawyers at other law firms and start getting some consultations going. 

Consultations offer a great opportunity to ask more thorough questions or discuss the aspects of your previous lawyer’s approach that you didn’t like. You now know more about what you want and don’t want from a personal injury lawyer, so use this knowledge to your advantage. 

Consider Letting Your Initial Lawyer Go

You can fire your personal injury lawyer at any time for any reason. However, depending on the terms of your contract with your lawyer, this may be expensive. For example, you could be charged for the work they’ve already completed, or you may need to pay for a new case review. 

When parting ways, ask your lawyer for any case-related documents–such as evidence or other paperwork. You will still need this information when you continue your case with a new lawyer. Keep in mind that switching lawyers may result in delays to your case, so it’s often better to do this sooner in the process of your personal injury case than later.

File a Formal Complaint

Every state has its own bar association, and certain cities or counties may have their own regulatory bodies for legal professionals. If your lawyer has done anything inappropriate or unacceptable–such as engaging in any unethical actions, being dishonest, or failing to provide adequate communication–you can file a complaint with your state’s attorney disciplinary board or bar association. In some situations, you may be able to sue your lawyer for malpractice.

Keep in mind that these reports are very serious and may have lasting results for your lawyer. Of course, if your lawyer acted unethically, it’s important to consider reporting them for the sake of helping to ensure they don’t harm other vulnerable people seeking legal assistance.

Looking for Support? Contact Gage Mathers

When you’re recovering from an injury, the last thing you want to do is stress over your case or chase down the lawyer who is supposed to be looking out for you. At Gage Mathers, our expert team is on your side and works tirelessly to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Looking for a reputable personal injury lawyer who will look out for you and provide expert, professional services? Call us today to schedule your free consultation!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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