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7 Signs You Need to Change Personal Injury Attorneys in Albuquerque, NM

Finding the right lawyer can be tough. It’s also one of the most important things you can do when you end up handling your own personal injury case.

If you’re in need of personal injury help in Albuquerque, NM, you might find yourself running into lawyers who aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Personal injury attorneys aren’t all the same, and not everyone has the same level of experience that you’ll need to support your case. 

If you think that you might have a personal injury attorney who isn’t a great fit, it’s important to seek someone new. Keep reading for 7 signs that your personal injury attorney isn’t right for you and it’s time for a change. 

1. They’re Inexperienced

Everyone needs to cut their teeth somewhere, but do you really want your attorney to be doing it on your personal injury case? 

There are definitely some newcomers to the game that are going to be great right after the Bar exam, but chances are you want someone experienced who’s been down this road before and knows what to expect.

Check their website to ensure that they claim to have experience in the type of case that you’re dealing with, and then do some investigation online. You might not be able to find out all of the facts, but you should be able to tell if they’re too green for your case. 

2. They Disagree on How to Move Forward

Chances are, your attorney knows a bit more about personal injury cases than you do. That said, part of their job is listening to you and responding to you as a client. You need to be on the same page as you progress through the legal process. 

If, for example, a settlement amount is offered and it isn’t one that you agree with, you should feel comfortable voicing that concern to your attorney. Your attorney should be willing to hear that concern and help you come to a reasonable middle ground, get the result you want, or feel comfortable with the result that they reached.

If you can’t communicate with your attorney, you might need to find a new one. 

3. They Aren’t Communicating With You

While a lot of the legal process is going to be handled by professionals, you absolutely should be looped in by your attorney at all times. 

It’s irresponsible for them to carry on without getting your input or not let you know what’s happening until after it’s happened. You’ve hired them to fulfill a task, and while they’re the ones in charge of carrying it out, you need to know what they’re up to throughout the process.

It’s also important that your attorney is able to respond to you in a timely manner. If you have questions or concerns, calls and emails should be responded to promptly. This is an anxious time and it will be made worse by poor communication.

A good attorney is communicative and open with their client at all times. 

4. There’s No Attempt at Settlement

Over 95% of personal injury cases end in settlement. Unless your circumstances are truly unique, your lawyer should be looking towards a settlement of some sort.  

If your lawyer has been working on this case for a while and there’s no settlement in sight, there might be something afoot. Either they know that there’s something unique about your case or they’re not doing their due diligence for you. 

Either way, it’s worth taking a second look at your attorney and your situation.

5. Your Case is Stagnating

How long has this case been going on?

While this can be a lengthy process, there should be regular progress throughout the duration of your personal injury case. 

There will be things for you to do and tasks for your attorney to complete if they are doing their job correctly. While progress may be slow, it should still be happening.

If you worry that your attorney isn’t giving your case the attention that it needs (thus slowing it down) you need to seek out alternative help.

6. They Have Negative Online Reviews

Reviews can be tricky. One burned former client can be all it takes to tank a Google review page. 

That said, having many good reviews is a great sign. It shows that the lawyer is doing great work. It also (and perhaps more importantly) shows that they’re able to forge a connection with their clients. 

It’s not easy to get a client to leave a positive review. People are far more likely to review the negative than the positive. Clients have to be truly satisfied with the attorney to be encouraged to review them positively. 

7. Your File Doesn’t Add Up

Your personal injury attorney should have a file full of information about your case (and it’s a file that you should have access to if you so desire). This is part of the job. 

The file will be full of any information that they’ve received from you, the other side, and any outside sources. There will be discovery requests and anything else that could be pertinent to your case.

If your attorney doesn’t have a clear paper trail of this information, or if you can’t make sense of it at all, it might be time for a second opinion. 

Do You Need to Swap Personal Injury Attorneys

Dealing with a personal injury case is stressful. Make it easier on yourself by changing personal injury attorneys if you feel uncomfortable. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s completely appropriate to seek a second opinion or a different attorney altogether. You want the right person to support you during this time. 

For more information on finding legal support for a personal injury case, visit our site and contact us. We’re here for you. 

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