In the aftermath of an accident, many clients wonder why their preferred law firm will not represent them. The purpose of this piece is to provide a high-level explanation of the problem. Some people who have been hurt may think they have a case but then cannot locate a lawyer who will take their case. Getting legal representation can be more difficult to find than you might expect. Below, we’ve included a few potential reasons why an attorney could turn down your case.
Explanation Of What Caused The Accident
A personal injury lawyer will immediately examine the incident’s circumstances. Someone’s breach of a legal duty is necessary to hold them financially liable. In other words, the harm must have been brought about intentionally. “Liable” describes someone in this position. A lawyer will turn down your case if they don’t believe you have a good chance of successfully holding the criminal accountable in court.
It is not enough to have a serious injury or have it happen on the grounds. Legal damages presuppose some party is legally liable for them.
If the lawyer does not think you have a strong case, they may not take it on unless the damages are very high. Since you failed to yield before entering the highway, you may be primarily at fault for the crash involving a semi-truck and yourself.
The injured party’s lawyer in Texas must show that the defendant was at fault for the plaintiff’s injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit. And that their customer was not more than 49% at fault. Each lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis must make this decision as the first step in their business.
What Kind Of Injury Doesn’t Count
The phrase “I could have been killed” is a staple in lawyers’ ears, but in Texas, it is not part of the evidence presented to the jury for calculating damages. What this means is that whatever may have transpired is irrelevant to your case and will not result in compensation. If the potential compensation does not cover the cost of pursuing the case, the attorney will reject it. An attorney’s expected salary rises in tandem with his or her level of expertise and performance.
The phrase “it’s an issue of principle” is another red flag for a lawyer. In most cases, this argument does not help the contingent fee attorney. In brief, a personal injury attorney will assess the situation and provide a damage estimate. If the expected compensation is insufficient, this case will likely be declined.
You won’t be able to hire a lawyer on a contingency fee basis to handle your injury case in Houston if the damages you’re seeking are purely theoretical. Punitive harm has an effect.
Assuming You Have Consulted With Or Hired Other Lawyers
We think people who have suffered personal injuries must get an appropriate lawyer to represent them.
When selecting a lawyer, it’s important to look for someone who is both a good fit for you personally and knowledgeable about the specifics of your accident case. Everyone ought to make it a top priority to hire the most competent attorney available for their specific legal needs. However, lawyers are suspicious of accident victims who shop for representation. If you were hurt in a car crash, you must find a lawyer specializing in such cases, for example, The Patel Firm.
In a similar vein, if you were involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, it is recommended that you seek the counsel of a truck accident lawyer.
Why Pursuing This Case Won’t Pay
Lawyers in this field typically accept cases on a contingency fee basis. Lawyers who accept cases on a contingent fee must exercise their business judgment before committing to representing a client. If the attorney estimates it will take 50 hours to complete the case and their hourly cost is $450, then their share of the recovered funds must be more than $22,500 for this to be a break-even scenario. When they factor in potential out-of-pocket costs and the possibility of a negative judgment, their break-even point rises even further.