Can I Change My Personal Injury Lawyer Halfway Through a Claim?

You can change your personal injury lawyer during a claim if you are dissatisfied with their service. If you have already started a claim but you want a different law firm to take over, please contact us at John Mickelson Law Corporation.

Not happy with your personal injury lawyer?

We often hear from people who say they have already started a personal injury claim but have lost confidence in their lawyer. It could be that the claim is too complex for the firm to handle and they simply don’t have the expertise to manage it. Or, there could be a clash of personalities, a lack of communication, or a dispute over the value of the claim. The speed at which a claim is processed is another common cause of concern. As the client, you may feel that your claim is crawling along with little progress or direction. This can be incredibly frustrating.

Changing your personal injury lawyer

Whatever your reasons, if you are not happy with your current legal representation, then you are perfectly entitled to look for a different lawyer. There is nothing that says you must stick with the same legal representative for the duration of your claim. That being said, you don’t want to change lawyers on a regular basis. This causes unnecessary complications and affects the continuity of your claim.

Because of this, we recommend that you take your time choosing a lawyer the second time round. Look for a reputable legal practice with lawyers who have proven experience in personal injury claims. Then, make contact and discuss your concerns with them. If they are willing to take your claim on – and you think you could build a good working relationship with them – then you can ask to transfer your file.

After speaking to other legal practices, you might come to the conclusion that you are actually better off staying with your current lawyer. On the other hand, it might confirm your suspicion that they’re not doing a good job. Not all legal representatives have the experience needed to run a personal injury claim, especially high value claims. If you are resolute that you would like to change your lawyer, then you should not hesitate to do so.

What happens next?

Your former lawyer and your new lawyer will discuss how to split their fees. Ordinarily, those making a personal injury claim enter into a contingency fee agreement. This allows your legal fees to be recovered from your compensation settlement. If you change lawyers, your former lawyer and your new lawyer must decide how to divide this contingency fee once your claim has concluded. This depends on the amount of work that has been completed to date. Once this has been resolved, your new lawyer will ask your former lawyer to transfer your file over to them.

Should I change my personal injury lawyer?

You only have one chance to make a personal injury claim, so it is important to find the right lawyer. If you are dissatisfied with your current representative, we urge you to reach out to other personal injury lawyers in the province. There is no harm in getting some initial advice. Afterwards, you can decide what to do.

At John Mickelson Law Corporation, we specialise in personal injury claims. We can talk to you about your claim free of charge, discussing your concerns and grievances. If we can help you, we can arrange for the smooth transition of your file. Our priority is to get you the compensation you deserve. We will set to work on your case straightaway, applying our expertise to secure a favourable settlement.

To speak to our Vancouver personal injury lawyers, either fill in the free online enquiry form or call us on 604 684 0040.

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