How Much Do I Have to Pay to Switch My Lawyer?

There are many reasons why you would choose to switch lawyers in the middle of your personal injury case. For instance, you might have rushed into hiring the first team that you came across, you might be unhappy with communication, or you might be unhappy with the way that things are going with your case and worried about the claim outcome. No matter the reason that you decide to switch lawyer, it is likely that you are worried about the outstanding balance owed to your lawyer.

You might have some of the following questions:

• How much do I have to pay to switch my lawyer in an injury case?
• How much do I have to pay to switch my lawyer for my car accident case?
• Do I have to pay my former lawyer if I fire him or her?
• Do I have to pay my former lawyer if I decide to get a new lawyer?
• Do I have to pay if I decide that I do not want to continue my case anymore?

These are all very important questions. In fact, these questions might prevent some people from switching lawyers altogether.

If you have found yourself asking these questions and are seriously considering switching lawyers, contact the experts here at our law firm today. Our lawyers here at the Normandie Law Firm have decades of experience handling all sorts of injury claims and are ready to provide you with all the information that you need. Here at our law firm, we are committed to our clients and to getting them the highest recovery possible regardless of whether they start their claims with us or switch over after starting their claim elsewhere. If you are ready to speak to our lawyers, contact us today.

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You have the Right to Switch Lawyers at Any Time

Under California law, you have the right to switch or terminate representation at any time during the legal process. More specifically, under California’s Code of Civil Procedure (CCP), attorneys may be changed at any time under client/attorney consent, court order, or either client/attorney apply for a change. Many people start the legal process not knowing anything about their rights. When their lawyer explains their rights after their accident, they don’t usually mention that they also have the right to switch lawyers for essentially any reason.

Do I have to Pay My Former Lawyer if I Move My Case to another Law Firm?

In general, personal injury lawyers work on contingency. This means that they do not charge upfront legal fees for any of their legal fees and actually only get their fee after a successful case result – whether it’s a settlement or a verdict.

So, what happens when you switch lawyers? Even after switching lawyers, you are responsible for the costs of all legal services completed up until making the switch. Depending on the point in the legal process, these fees could vary significantly. Given that your former lawyer worked on contingency, these fees would not be due until your case settled with your new lawyer. Your former lawyer would provide you and your new lawyer with a balance to be paid once the case is resolved. This does not need to paid until the case is resolved. In general, your new lawyer will try to negotiate with your former lawyer to reduce his or her fees.

What if my lawyer demands immediate payment? It is possible that your former lawyer demands upfront payment upon making the switch. Most people with active personal injury cases cannot cover these costs. In some cases, your new lawyer will help you cover these costs and then deduct them from your settlement once your case is successful.

How Do I Know How Much I Will Have to Pay for Legal Fees?

When you hire a lawyer, you have to sign a legal contract that outlines all the terms and conditions relating to your representation and your case. Here, you will be able to find the law firm’s rate (this is typically a percentage that is taken from your settlement). This document will also contain important information regarding termination of representation and switching lawyers, including whether the law firm will require immediate payment of outstanding balances or whether they will work with your new lawyer to get their payment after your case closes.

Do I Have to Pay If I Decide Not to Pursue My Case Anymore?

What happens if I don’t want to continue my case? Do I have to pay him even if I am ready to drop my case completely? How much will I have to pay? These are all important questions. The decision to drop a case should not be taken lightly. Although you might think that you want to drop your case, you should first think things through – and possibly get a second opinion before deciding to drop the case.

Many clients lose hope and want to stop pursuing their claim. However, this can be largely due to the incompetence of the legal team handling the case. A lack of communication regarding the case, a lack of progress in the case, etc. can all make clients frustrated and result in a lack of confidence in the team and in the legal process. Do not rush into dropping your case as your legal team could be the problem. Switching lawyers could be the solution.

Contact Us Today

If you are considering switching lawyers to better the outcome of your personal injury case, contact the experts here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers have decades of experience and are not afraid to fight for your rights to secure the compensation that you are owed. We offer free legal services, which include both free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our expert personal injury lawsuit lawyers will be available to provide you with all the information that you need. Whether you are looking to start your case or switch lawyers after starting your case elsewhere, we can help you.

Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that you will never pay upfront legal costs for our legal services. In addition, you will never be required to pay anything until you win because our law firm works on a strict contingency structure. If you are considering switching lawyers, contact us today for a free second opinion today!

We are ready to help you every step of the way!