If you suffer a personal injury, and need to seek legal counsel, the last thing you want is the headache of dealing with the consequences of a bad attorney’s mistakes. The best prevention is to hire the right lawyer for the job, but if you think it’s too late, you can still take steps to protect yourself. In the meantime, here are five signs you might have hired the wrong attorney:
1. They Have a Broad Area of Practice
Be cautious of the attorneys who market themselves as having experience in too many different areas. Typically, this is a red flag, as effective attorneys usually choose to focus on a select area of litigation. Better to hire a lawyer who’s the best in their area of expertise than someone who has claims to have experience in seemingly every area of law.
2. They Reached Out to You
If any attorney calls you after an accident, you should avoid them. This is a practice known as “ambulance chasing” and it’s actually prohibited by the Bar Association. A good attorney will most likely come from a referral, and, at the very least, they will have quality references. Following an accident, if an attorney approaches you, you should file a report with the Bar Association.
3. They Don’t Consult You Before Decisions
Lack of communication, or poor communication, should be a clear sign that the attorney is either inefficient, or does not have the necessary time to dedicate to your case. If you notice that your attorney is not communicating with you about your case and the decisions involved, consider finding someone else before it’s too late.
4. They’re Rude or Unprofessional
If your attorney rushes you, makes you feel insignificant, or is otherwise just plain rude, you should immediately take action to find someone new. An attorney’s main focus should be the well-being of their client, and if that is not taking priority, imagine what else might fall through the cracks.
5. They Miss Important Deadlines
A lot of court documents are extremely time sensitive and if your lawyer was late in filing them, it might cost you the case. If your attorney is delayed in responding to your calls and emails, or if they are chronically late to meetings, you might want to consider hiring someone else before they miss a critical deadline.
Think You Hired the Wrong Lawyer? Contact Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins, P.A
Even if you are already suffering from another lawyer’s mistakes, the experienced Tampa Bay area Attorneys Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins, P.A. are here to help. We represent individual clients in personal injury, wrongful death claims and criminal defense matters. Visit us online or give us a call today.