unhappy with lawyer

[avril15]

I was injured in a car accident in '96 and I am still fighting to get a settlement from it. I have permanent nervous system damage from the accident and it causes me great pain. My lawyer has recently has made an offer to the driver's insurance company, however I do not feel that they asked for nearly enough. They are asking for 25,000$--and this is a condition that I am going to have to live with for the rest of my life-plus I have to pay my past medical bills which are piling up fast. Is it too late to change my asking price and is it too late to get a new lawyer if mine feels that asking for more money would be ridiculous?

 

[prairielaw3]

Generally it is not too late to fire your lawyer or to direct him/her to withdraw the offer. But first talk to your lawyer and get his/her analysis for the offer and ask the lawyer to put it in writing. If you not get satisfaction then seek a second opinion-being mindful of your state's statute of limitations.
The reasons for the suggestions above is that even if not too late to change, the question is whether it is wise to do so; many factors go into an evaluation of a claim. Even if catastrophic permanent injuries, if the negligent person has only limited insurance and is practically uncollectible for any excess individual liability then if the coverage is only 25,000, then that might be the most that can be collected-regardless of the injuries. Also, if juries in the area are very conservative, or if there are other proof problems, or if there are liability problems are all reasons why a claim may be discounted. These are examples of just a few reasons why attorneys will reduce the value of a claim, and these are some of the matters that you should discuss with your lawyer first.


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George H. Senteney
http://www.prairielaw.com