At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we get calls from accident victims who are interested in changing attorneys. They wonder if this is legal in the state of California. The answer of course is yes – it is legal. No matter where you are in your case, you can always fire your attorney. However, it could affect your case. Let’s consider why it may be worth it to fire your personal injury attorney in San Bernardino CA and then the best practices for doing so.
Top reasons for firing a personal injury attorney in San Bernardino CA
There’s a long list of reasons that people may choose to fire their attorney but here are some of the most common that we’ve seen.
- Their lawyer doesn’t offer enough communication. This may include a situation where your attorney doesn’t return your calls, doesn’t keep you informed, or otherwise isn’t keeping you up dated on your case.
- Their attorney lacks skill. Not every personal injury attorney in San Bernardino CA is created equal. Some simply don’t have the skills and make mistakes, miss deadlines, or don’t file the right paperwork.
- They disagree with their attorney. While your attorney is there to provide their legal advice, it is still your case. If you and your attorney can’t agree on how to handle a case, or if you’re working towards different outcomes, then they might not be the best attorney to handle your case.
The above are just a few of the reasons that we’ve seen people change personal injury attorneys. If you feel uncomfortable or unsatisfied with your current attorney, then Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas urges you to call us today at 909-982-0707.
How to fire your personal injury attorney
We can help you come up with the best practices while letting your attorney know you won’t be working with them anymore. However, here are a few of the tips we’ve offered for clients in the past. Your unique needs may be different.
- Get a replacement personal injury attorney in San Bernardino CA before you fire your current attorney. Before you let your attorney go, it’s a good idea to already have a new lawyer. You’ll want to make sure there’s another, better option out there for you before you let your current counsel go.
- Notify your attorney via mail. Send a letter to your attorney and let them know you won’t be working with them in the future. Include the contact information for your new lawyer and ask that your files are forwarded to them.
- Notify the court. In the event that your case has been filed with the California court, you’ll need to notify them that you’ve changed attorneys.
- Pay your attorney what you owe them. Do you owe your former attorney? They may have a lien for their fees and / or the costs they’ve incurred representing you so far. Send a request in writing and ask them for an itemized breakdown of what you owe them.
No matter what type of personal injury case you’re dealing with, you don’t have to work with an attorney you don’t feel confident in. Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 today for your free case evaluation.
