I've tried to contact my lawyer on several occasions thru e-mail and by telephone to get an update concerning my personal injury case. His secretaries keeps putting me thru to his answering machine, and i keep leaving messages asking him
to please call or e-mail me on this matter.
I have yet to hear from him, it's been over 2 months now and
all I ask is that he e-mails me if he can't call.
What could possibly be the problem,
maybe he's already settled the case ?
maybe he's not getting his messages, or just not my messages ?
maybe he's sick or i'll ?
"Wait "! Maybe he just does'nt give a fu$%k ?
It's been a year since my traffic accident.
What can should i do at this point?
Sincerely,mitchell@kianas.net
2007-09-19 05:50:08 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Contact the state bar for some remedy. Your atty guy may be in the line for malpractice.
2007-09-19 05:59:23 · answer #1 · answered by Shell Answer Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that you schedule an appointment to meet with your attorney to discuss your case. Lawyers are horrible about returning phone calls-they think they are too busy. By scheduling an appointment, you force the attorney to look at your case and discuss it with you. Besides, conveying information over the phone is not the best-it leaves too much room for misunderstanding. E-mail is for short correspondence, not an indepth explanation.
If you haven't already filed a lawsuit, I would keep track of the time that has elasped. There is a certain time frame in which lawsuits must be filed and if the time frame expires, you are out of luck. Ask your attorney what the statute of limitations is for your type of case.
If your lawsuit has been filed, he may not have any information for you. Most attorneys who file lawsuits on traffic accidents are paid by getting a certain % of the money they collect for you. If that's your agreement, he may not want to "waste" a lot of time by calling and saying "nothing new with your case". Personal injury cases generally take months to resolve.
If you are unhappy, you could hire another attorney to represent you. If you do, your present attorney will bill you for what he's done so far and you are legally obligated to pay if even though you don't yet have a judgment.
If all else fails, you could file a complaint with the bar association for the state you live in.
2007-09-19 13:38:14 · answer #2 · answered by Susan D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to the office and request an update.
Settlement cases do take alot of time, especially, if the other party thinks they have a stronger case. It just may be that your lawyer is still trying to get with the other party.
When you call again you can ask the receptionist to get the update for you and you will be in to pick it up. That way if your lawyer is truly busy preparing for another case, it will only take a brief time to jot something down. Make sure you allow 1 day.
If being polite and setting the time limit does not work then you can start to look for another lawyer and it may take even longer because the other party will see it as a sign of weakened case and it just may start from square one all over again.
2007-09-19 17:11:04 · answer #3 · answered by peggy m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lawyers are very busy. He's probably working on other cases and maybe even preparing for trial. Lawyers don't typically email, it takes up a lot of time. I'm assuming he took your case on contingency. He may be waiting for the other party to answer an offer he submitted. There are many factors here. I'd go into the office and ask directly what the status of your case is.
2007-09-19 13:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by maggieeld 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The next phone call and email I would send would say something to the effect of: "Since I haven't been able to talk to you in over two months, and am unaware of what is happening with my case, I am looking for new representation. I have the number to the state bar association and will be calling them to see if they can help me learn what is happening with my case in the mean time. Also, I don't feel comfortable paying you for lack of representation and will be taking appropriate actions to regain the fees you have charged me."
If he doesn't call you back within 24 hours, call the state board and see what your rights are as far as anything you have paid him and finding out the status of your case.
2007-09-19 13:05:40 · answer #5 · answered by SisterSue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Document each attempt to contact and then if no response, report him to the State Bar Association. Lawyers suck!
2007-09-19 12:58:37 · answer #6 · answered by wondermom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call him up and leave this message for him. "I have found a different attorney I am thinking about hiring. Because you don't seem to be interested in my case". He'll get back to then, Guaranteed.
2007-09-19 12:56:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give him 72 hours to respond to you--in person--or fire him. Simple.
2007-09-19 13:00:21 · answer #8 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are u paying him if so drop him same problem and i have dropped him and am trying to find another one
good luck
2007-09-19 16:42:37 · answer #9 · answered by oh_jo123 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋