how long does it take lawyer to get information about a case

by Alvera Medhurst 4 min read

Answer: It should rarely take more than 4-6 weeks for a malpractice lawyer to make a decision about your case. Initially, it may take 2-4 weeks just to get your medical records and sometimes it takes a bit longer.

Full Answer

How do I talk to my attorney about my case?

You and your attorney must focus on your specific case. While you talk, in addition to getting information, the attorney will evaluate you as a witness and client, in areas such as memory, honesty, appearance, attitude, cooperation, communication skills and many other characteristics. Do not lie or mislead your attorney.

How do attorneys decide to take a case to litigation?

In general, there are three major criteria attorneys use to decide whether to take a case to litigation: damages. Sometimes the employer or the number of clients (if a class action case is a possibility) and the scope of the claims are also factors in determining whether the attorney has the experience and resources to litigate a case.

How does the process of hiring a lawyer work?

The legal assistant or a paralegal will then gather the information for an attorney to review your case before a decision is made to set up an appointment. In case the firm you contact does a thorough screening over the phone, you should be prepared before you start calling law firms to discuss representation.

How long does a workers’ compensation case take?

Whether the insurance company disputed a worker’s disability rating played a large role in how long the workers’ compensation case took. When the insurance company did not dispute the worker’s PD rating, the case was resolved in 14.4 months. However, when the insurance company did dispute the worker’s PD rating, the case took 18.7 months.

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How long should a lawyer take to respond?

A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.

Why do attorneys take so long to respond?

Sometimes, lawyers take a bit longer than usual to respond because they are away from their office or traveling for business. If you have not heard back from your lawyer within 48 hours of sending them an important email, you should send another email just asking if there is any news or status about your case.

Is it normal not to hear from your attorney?

Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.

How often should I hear from my attorney?

There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Why do lawyers ignore you?

If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.

Is no news good news from your lawyer?

The bottom line is that this is generally one of those cases where “no news is good news” because it means your attorney is working on your case. The only time you should get concerned is if you need to speak to your attorney and you cannot get through nor have you received a return call.

How do you get your lawyer to respond?

If you think your attorney is ignoring you, send a certified letter to his office questioning the silence and that you are prepared to find a new lawyer if necessary. This will jolt him into action. He will respond either by saying the two of you aren't a good fit, or he will start being much more communicative.

How do you know a bad lawyer?

Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.

Do lawyers lie to their clients?

In California, the Rules of Professional Conduct govern a lawyer's ethical duties. The law prohibits lawyers from engaging in dishonesty.

Should you tell your lawyer everything?

It's almost always advisable to tell your lawyer the whole truth about your case, even if you've committed a crime. Giving your lawyer all the facts helps them craft the best defense by raising reasonable doubt. Even when a client admits guilt, there are usually many mitigating circumstances that can come into play.

What happens when I call a law office?

Every law firm is different, and may handle speaking with potential new clients differently than another. Some firms do a great deal of screening o...

Will I be charged to talk to a lawyer to find out whether I may have a case?

Most attorneys charge a fee (called a "consultation" fee) for an initial meeting, but some do not. When you make an appointment to see an attorney,...

How should I prepare for my first meeting or telephone conversation with a lawyer?

The attorney will ask you questions designed to get the relevant information quickly and to determine if your situation is something the attorney i...

Will the lawyer tell me whether I have a case or not?

In most situations, no. The law governing employment relations does not contain many hard and fast rules about what conduct is or is not legal. The...

How will a lawyer decide whether to take my case?

In general, there are three major criteria attorneys use to decide whether to take a case to litigation:the client;the merits of the claims; anddam...

Average Duration of A Workers’ Compensation Case

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According to the results of our survey, it took an average of 15.7 months for our readers to resolve their workers’ compensation cases—either through a voluntary settlement with the workers' comp insurance company or after a workers’ compensation hearing with a judge. That’s almost a year and a half. So if you wer…
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Factors That Affect The Length of A Workers’ Comp Case

  • Many factors influence how long or short a workers’ compensation case will be, including: 1. whether the worker hires a lawyer 2. whether the worker tries to negotiate a better settlement, and 3. whether the worker requests a workers’ compensation hearing or files an appeal. A longer workers’ compensation case was not always a bad thing, though. Factors that tended to lengthe…
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Common Reasons For Workers' Comp Delays

  • The overwhelming majority of readers, 90%, believed that there was a delay in their workers’ compensation cases. We asked our readers to report what they believed to be a source of delay in their cases. According to 34% of our readers, the number one cause of delay was due to the employer or its insurance company not moving fast enough. This isn’t too surprising, given insur…
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Consult with A Workers' Comp Lawyer

  • While surveys are helpful in determining current trends and practices, they can’t predict how long your workers’ compensation case will take. The duration of your case will depend on a number of factors particular to your situation, including how long you receive treatment for your injuries, the degree of any permanent impairment you’ve suffered, and what state you were working in at the …
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