Who governs or oversee's claim insurance attorney's?

Question

I have a car insurance claim that has been is process since 2001 my attorney has not really been good with keeping me intone with what is going on. We did settle one part but I believe that he got the most out of that settlement, but now we are getting around to the second half of the claim and my attorney is trying to interrogate me about the accident when I call him. He never calls me, there was supposed to be a court date last week but his office advise that they canceled the court date. I just would like to know what steps to take to get all my information from this attorney and bring it to another or what steps to take to sue him for bad business practices

Answer 1

First thing I would do is to write your state's Commissioner of Insurance. Tell him/her everything you know about this, and your insurance and the other insurance company.

There is absolutely nothing that will get you a quicker response from an insurance company than a letter from the insurance commissioner.

The insurance commissioner has the authority to shut down any insurance company that does business within the state. And if you car insurance is with a company that also writes life and medical and property, etc. they must cease signing up new business until the commissioner is satisfied they have treated you according to their contract with you. Insurance companies do not like getting letters from the commissioner; it puts their business in jeopardy, and is a great impetus to make them treat you right.

I am wondering where your agent is in all this? Agents are not all created equal; there are good ones and lazy ones. But with a good agent, you should not even need a lawyer.

And I think you have got a shyster for a lawyer. He probably decided that the part you settled made him the most money, and he's not willing to put in the time to work for the little that's left.

And another thing. Lawyers really like to take a case where you do not pay their fee up front, and let them take a third of the settlement. Unless a claim is less than ten thousand, never let a lawyer take your case on contingency. If he wins, he takes his expenses and court costs out first, then takes a third of what's left for his fee, and you wind up with about 40% of the total award. It's better to bite the bullet and pay up front.

Answer 2

It sounds like your attorney is not doing his best for you. You should consult another attorney and he will contact this one to get the files. You can also contact the licensing department in your state that handles the licensing of attorneys. Also, you may be entitled to compensation from this attorney!