Firing your existing RI car accident attorney or automobile collision law firm in Rhode Island for not providing satisfactory results is actually commonplace. However, you will still need to ensure that the old RI car accident attorney receives payment for services rendered. In many cases, attorneys in Providence are fired because the client lost trust or faith in their abilities or there was lack of communication to inform the client of the ongoing status of their case or any significant changes that have occurred.
If you find you are not satisfied with your existing Rhode Island personal injury attorney in charge of handling your case, you have the legal right to obtain new counsel. The written contingency fee contract you made with your RI car accident attorney will still allow you to fire the law firm at any time although, they must be paid for their services. In Rhode Island, any client who is dissatisfied with the legal representation provided by their attorney can seek to obtain a new lawyer at any time. By law, the previous RI auto accident lawyer is required to ensure that the new law firm receives the legal file.
Why Fire the Providence negligence Lawyer?
In many incidences, the attorney’s performance or lack of performance provides a legitimate reason to seek new counsel for better advice and representation. Some of the leading reasons that clients depart from a law firm include:
• The lawyer acted unprofessionally and did not return phone calls
• The RI lawyer failed to comprehend the case
• There was a disagreement between the client and attorney about how the case should and would be handled
• The attorney’s actions were detrimental to a successful outcome of the case
How Legal Services Get Paid
Many times, the previous attorney will attach a statutory lien against your case as a way to ensure they are paid for their services once the claim for compensation or lawsuit is resolved. Payment for the legal services provided by your previous RI car accident attorney is usually not required at the time you switch firms. However, if you settle your claim out of court or successfully resolve your lawsuit at trial, the previous lawyer is entitled to be paid for the legal services they provided in handling your case.
A Contingency Fee Agreement | RI Car Accident Attorney
Nearly all personal injury cases, premises liability claims and slip and fall causes of action involve contingency fees where the Rhode Island personal injury attorney works for a portion of the out-of-court settlement or jury trial award. Typically, these types of cases involve:
• Slip and fall accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Vehicle accident and car crash injuries
• Pedestrian and bicycle injuries, Rhode Island motorcycle accident, RI truck collision
• Nursing home abuse
• Premises liability
• Defective products
• Bad drugs
• Wrongful death in Rhode Island
Disagreeing How Much Is Owed
In some situations, new attorneys and old law firms will disagree on how to fairly divide lawyer fees. When this occurs, one or both parties can submit their dispute to be heard in a fee dispute arbitration handled by the Rhode Island Bar Association. If the attorneys choose not to go that route, they can litigate in court the amount each law firm is entitled to receive.
The dispute over payment is never the client’s problem. They never incur additional additional expense simply for obtaining new counsel. Even while the RI lawyers are disputing their share, the client is never delayed in receiving payment. Your new law firm must still provide you your agreed share of the proceeds obtained through an out-of-court settlement or jury award after resolving the personal injury case even if he is in a fee war with the Rhode Island personal injury lawyer you discharged.
For dissatisfied clients, switching law firms can be a stressful experience. However, the process can go much smoother if you maintain a professional demeanor while you are making the change.