Reaching out to a personal injury lawyer can be intimidating, especially when you believe you’re not confident about your case. Recent data from the American Bar Association reveals that just approximately 4% of personal injury claims progress to the stage of filing a lawsuit.
Since lawyers are responsible for the outcome of a personal injury case and it has an impact on their reputation, many law firms consider many factors before taking a case. Before you hire a personal injury attorney, you must know that they can decline some cases. They will provide a valid justification for rejecting your case.
This article contains information on why your attorney may not handle your case. Keep reading to learn more.
The Following are Five Reasons why Your Lawyer May not Handle Your Case:
The Firm Lacks Resources to Handle Your Case
There’s the financial aspect to consider because time is money. Certain cases demand significant funds and resources for a thorough investigation. For example, medical malpractice cases can swiftly accumulate costs amounting to thousands of dollars during the discovery phase, where lawyers strive to unravel the facts surrounding the incident.
Consequently, they selectively take on these cases due to the financial commitment involved. If your situation is valid, consider contacting other personal injury firms. You might discover one with the capacity and dedication to give you the necessary time and support.
Your Case Creates Conflict of Interest with Your Attorney
A lawyer might decide not to handle your case if there’s a conflict of interest. For example, if they’re already representing someone else connected to the same incident. In this scenario, the attorney is ethically obligated to prioritize the interests of their current client.
If you’ve been informed about a conflict of interest, find alternative options, like contacting another personal injury lawyer in your area.
If You Suffer Minor Injuries
It’s important to remember that any case a lawyer agrees to take involves both time and money on their part. They will want to ensure that any settlement you receive adequately covers your medical expenses and fees and addresses all your pain and suffering.
If your injuries are minor, you might lose money after the lawyer’s fees and medical costs are deducted from a small settlement. No reputable lawyer would want that outcome for their client.
Lack of Funds to Cover the Cost of a Settlement
Sometimes, lawyers have to reject challenging cases, especially when there’s no money available to compensate for a settlement. It can be pretty disheartening if you bear the consequences of someone else’s negligence without any financial recourse!
A good example is when you are crossing an intersection and an uninsured driver hits you. Usually, lawyers pursue the driver’s insurance to cover your hospital costs, lost income, and emotional distress. However, if there’s no insurance policy, the law firm will be forced into a tough spot, making it difficult for them to assist you.
Liability Problems
Personal injury lawyers are there to support people who’ve been hurt. Essentially, personal injury lawyers step in when someone else is at fault for the injury. However, determining and proving the other person’s responsibility can be more complex.
Sometimes the victim may have played a role in the accident. If this happens in a state that follows contributory negligence laws, then the victim will not receive compensation. Accepting a case like this will be detrimental to the lawyer’s reputation and a waste of everyone’s time.
Final Say
The personal injury lawyer may decline a case because of minor injuries, lack of funds, etc. Hopefully, the reasons mentioned in this article will help those seeking legal help understand why a lawyer is passing on their case.
