In this article, we will discuss the process of Can I Switch Attorneys in Personal Injury Case in the event that your current lawyer is no longer able to provide you with satisfactory service.
Introduction
For some, they may not be aware of the process that goes into legally switching lawyers in the event that your current lawyer is no longer able to provide satisfying service. This article will, in a nutshell, discuss the process of switching lawyers.
The Process
Switching lawyers is a two step process. The first step is to inform your current lawyer that you are terminating the contract. The second step is to seek legal counsel from another lawyer of your choice. In regards to informing your current lawyer that you wish to terminate the contract, there are several ways in which you can go about doing so: in person, by telephone and via written correspondence. It is vital to remember that your lawyer must be informed that you wish to switch over to another lawyer. There are several ways in which you can go about informing your current lawyer, so as to avoid any confusion or misunderstanding on their part.
Informing Your Current Lawyer Through Handwritten and Written Correspondence
In the case of written correspondence, the letter must contain the following information:
-Your full name (this is important because it ensure that your current lawyer knows which case file they are looking at).
-Your current and previous addresses if any.
-Your phone number and e-mail address.
-The reason as to why you are terminating your contract with your lawyer, citing as much evidence as possible that will support your reason for dismissal.
One the document is completed, all you need to do is sign it and make two copies of it (one original and one copy). Once this is done, you should take both originals of the document to be signed at a different location (for instance, to your current lawyer’s office). One you’ve signed the document, while keeping one copy for yourself, leave one copy at your current lawyer’s office. You can then instruct your current lawyer on how to proceed on the agreement that they made with you. In the event your current lawyer refuses to accept your letter of termination, then you can file a case before the courts and get a judgment that orders your current lawyer to accept your letter of termination.
The Process of Switching Lawyers in Person
In the case of switching lawyers in person, there are three ways in which you can go about doing so. You will need to make sure that you inform your current lawyer that you wish to terminate their contract with them. In case your current lawyer is unable to verify that you are, indeed, the person wishing to terminate their contract with them, they can ask to see a valid form of identification. If on the other hand your current lawyer cannot be convinced that you are truly the person who wishes to terminate their contract, then they might try and prevent you from terminating the contract with them. In either case, you must be vigilant and keep yourself secure to avoid anything that might be construed as a hindrance or obstructing of your rights.
In the event that your current lawyer tries to obstruct the termination of your contract with them, you can claim one of the following actions in order to prohibit these actions:
-Court Order which orders your current lawyer to accept your letter and allow you to switch lawyers.
-Court Order which orders your current lawyer to not obstruct you, in any way, in terminating your contract with them.
-A court order which prohibits your current lawyer from giving all of the documents that you have prepared for them to another lawyer without your permission.
The Process of Switching Lawyers via Telephone
In the event that you choose to switch lawyers via telephone, you must first inform your current lawyer that you wish to terminate their contract and also specify as much evidence as possible to support your decision. If your current lawyer tries to prevent you from terminating your contract with them, then you must also inform them of the action that you wish to take against them in order to prohibit their actions. The next thing you need to do is inform your current lawyer that you wish for them to transfer all the documents and files in your case file without tampering with any of the documents. If your current lawyer refuses, then follow the same rules detailed in the above paragraph on switching lawyers in person.
To summarize, the process of switching lawyers is a simple two step process that can be made easier if the instructions are followed in order to terminate your contract with your current lawyer and obtain new counsel.
Is It Bad to Switch Personal Injury Attorneys in the Case?
Unlike what most people believe, switching personal injury attorneys is not a bad thing at all. In fact, if you are unhappy with the performance of your current attorney, it can be a great thing. The best part of switching attorneys during the cases is you can do this whenever you want without any limitation.
