what if my auto collision lawyer do not reply to me

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.

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.

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.

What to do when your lawyer stops communicating with you?

If your lawyer still does not respond, you can send him or her a letter explaining the communication problems. If at this point you do not hear anything from your lawyer, you should consult with a legal malpractice attorney.

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.

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.

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

Why do lawyers drag out cases?

Their goal is to drag the case on and pay out as little as possible. This earns more money for the attorney, who gets paid by the hour, and also can help frustrate the plaintiff into making a better settlement for them out of desperation.

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.

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

Once a case gets filed in court, things can really slow down. Common reasons why a case will take longer than one would hope can include: Trouble getting the defendant or respondent served. The case cannot proceed until the defendant on the case has been formally served with the court papers.

How do you follow up with a lawyer?

Ask to meet again. Cordially make your request for the followup meeting. Include your phone numbers and email address, even though your attorney already has them from the previous meeting. If there is a best time or manner to contact you, let them know what it is.

How do I know if my lawyer is cheating on a settlement?

Dennis BeaverThe attorney does not return phone calls in a reasonable amount of time, and;In a meeting with the client, if the lawyer is being very short, taking phone calls, trying to re-schedule, not giving enough time to the client, does not listen, ignores what is asked or is not answering questions.

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.

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

Once a case gets filed in court, things can really slow down. Common reasons why a case will take longer than one would hope can include: Trouble getting the defendant or respondent served. The case cannot proceed until the defendant on the case has been formally served with the court papers.

How do I know if my lawyer is any good?

So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.

How do you know if you got a good lawyer?

You will know you have an excellent lawyer if they offer advice based on their specialization field knowledge and experience. After all, you are paying them for quality services. The lawyer should have expertise in the successful representation of clients in the past regarding the specific legal issue you're battling.

What is the ethical obligation of a lawyer?

A lawyer has an ethical obligation to communicate with his clients. If he’s holding documents or if his lack of communication is holding up your ability to settle the estate, he’s not meeting his ethical duty to you as a client. You might wish to send a certified letter, as you mentioned.

How to get a different public defender?

In most cases, you can get a different public defender by writing a letter to the judge. Accordingly, you can mention to your lawyer that you want to explore getting a different public defender. Hopefully this will motivate your attorney to either (a) be more responsive, or (b) help you request a new lawyer. Reply.

Can a new lawyer file a notice of withdrawal?

The new lawyer can (1) make sure the old lawyer has actually filed the notice of withdrawal, (2) make sure any new paperwork/notices get directed to the right place, and (3) make sure there aren’t any upcoming deadlines that need prompt action.

Do attorneys have an ethical duty to communicate with their clients?

Attorneys are often very busy. With that being said, attorneys have an ethical duty to communicate with their clients. I would recommend sending your attorney a letter outlining your concerns and explaining that you are going to look for a new attorney if the issues aren’t resolved.

What to do if you have no injuries in a car accident?

Then, if there are no injuries, you exchange information with the other driver — insurance companies, names, addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, etc. Then you maybe take photos of the damage.

How long can you have your license suspended in Oregon?

In Oregon, for example, drivers without liability insurance who get into an accident may have their license suspended for one year. “Insurance companies and agents must tell DMV about any accident when they believe a driver is uninsured,” writes the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services.

What is a duty to cooperate clause?

Investopedia explains: “A cooperation clause is a passage in an insurance contract that requires the policyholder to work with the insurer if a policy claim occurs,” they write. “Under this agreement, the policyholder must participate in and contribute ...

Can you cooperate with an insurance company if the driver refuses to cooperate?

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do when the at-fault driver refuses to cooperate with the insurance investigation. This is a tremendous breach of trust — if not a breach of contract. But there’s nothing you can legally do to compel the other driver to cooperate. Insurance policies contain cooperation clauses (or “duty to cooperate” clauses).

Christian K. Lassen II

You should first contact your insurance company and tell them what occurred. Second, you should go see a personal injury attorney. The attorney may need to file suit or may be able to reach out the negligent driver's insurance company and speak to the adjuster.

Chance Allen McMillan

The smartest move is to file a claim with your own insurance company. Once your insurance company pay for the damages, it will seek reimbursement from the liable third-party. This will help you to fulfill you obligation to mitigate your damages during the claims process.

Richard Todd Rosenstein

You can hire an attorney and file suit against them immediately or let you auto insurance take care of the claim thru your collision or Uninsured Motorist coverage.

David Ian Schoen

Your insurance company will handle this under the collision and apply the collision deductible. They will then pursue the insurance company for the at fault driver as well as your deductible. Impossible to say how your insurance company will treat the fact of the accident for rating purposes. I suggest you discuss that with your agent.

What happens if an insurance company is found to be in bad faith?

If the insurance company is found to have committed bad faith, you may be entitled to additional compensation over the value of your claim.

What is the duty of the insurance company to insure the party at fault?

However, property damage claims would be the duty of the insurance company that insures the party who was primarily at fault. In no-fault states, the law usually requires you to cooperate with your insurance company, such as by providing a recorded statement or being examined by a medical examiner to ascertain the extent of your injuries.

Which states have no fault insurance?

No-Fault States. Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah and the District of Columbia use a no-fault insurance scheme. With this type of coverage, your own insurance company pays for all or a portion of your medical bills and lost wages if you are involved in ...

Can you file a claim for pain and suffering?

For example, some states set a cap on the amount of damages that the insurance company will pay. Most of these states prohibit a person from filing a claim for pain and suffering unless their medical damages reach a certain point or they suffer a serious injury.

Is at fault basis always the case?

While many states use an at-fault basis that requires the insurance company that provided insurance to the person who was primarily responsible for the accident to pay for damages, this is not always the case.

Can an insurance company refuse to settle a bodily injury claim?

Therefore, they cannot refuse to settle your bodily injury claim because you have not reached an agreement on the property damage claim.

Irwin R Kramer

You forgot to do one thing that is simple and highly effective: Write a letter. While insurance companies respond to phone calls all the time, and it is unusual for them to reply in this unhelpful manner, they won't let it drop if you have documented the call and put all of it in writing, sent both first class mail and certified.

Lars A. Lundeen

If you have collision damage coverage on your vehicle, you can make the claim under your own policy and recoup the deductible at a later date. You also should continue to call the insurance company to make sure they are actively trying to investigate the matter.

Joyce J. Sweinberg

If your case involves injuries, contact an attorney immediately to get advice. Most personal injury attorneys will give you a free consultation.

What to do if all else fails in a car accident?

If All Else Fails. If all else fails, seek out a car accident attorney. If your coverage is not enough or you can’t contact the other driver or their insurance company, you should look into getting an attorney to fight for your case.

What to do if you know the other driver's insurance company?

If you know the other driver’s insurance company, pass on the information to your insurance provider. When your insurance can’t get a hold of the person at fault, they may have better luck reaching the other company directly.

What to do when insurance keeps calling?

It’s best to remain polite and remember the risks that come with speaking to an opposing insurance company. If you have an attorney, inform the insurance company to contact your lawyer to discuss your case.

What to do if your insurance refuses to pay?

The best thing to do if they refuse to pay is to pursue the claim extensively. If you have proof of fault for the other driver in writing, use that to your advantage. It can be a tedious process to continue working with your insurance company to contact the other party, but in the end, it will benefit you.

Why is it risky to consult with other insurance companies?

One of the main reasons it’s risky to consult with other insurance companies is that they’ll ask to record you. Always deny a recorded call with other companies if you can. The goal of the other company is to take a recorded statement about the accident.

What is the goal of the other insurance company?

The goal of the other company is to take a recorded statement about the accident. They want you to admit fault either in writing or on recording so that your claim will become invalid. The best steps to take is to avoid calling or reaching out to the other insurance company at all costs. They are not your friend.

What to do if you don't know the other person's insurance?

If you don’t know the other person’s insurance company and have no way of contacting the at-fault driver, get a “declarations page” from your insurance company to see the extent of your coverage. In the very least, you may find that your coverage will be enough to fix all of your damages and pay any medical bills.

What is the first step in a personal injury claim?

The first was to be sure any injuries you sustained were identified and fully treated. The second was to establish the existence of damages. While the facts you present make clear the other driver was wholly negligent, negligence alone is not sufficient to sustain a viable personal injury claim.

Is negligence sufficient to sustain a viable personal injury claim?

negligence alone is not sufficient to sustain a viable personal injury claim. To succeed in an injury claim requires evidence of negligence AND resulting damages. You have a minimal amount of damages. It is likely your medical bills didn’t exceed a thousand dollars or so.

Is it inappropriate to blame an attorney for a car accident?

To blame the attorney is inappropriate. You undoubtedly contacted a personal injury attorney to represent you in your car collision claim. For the attorney to have any chance of succeeding in such a claim, his or her client (you) would have to have “damages” to support a claim for injuries.

Why do you need to update your car insurance after a collision?

Often insurance company adjusters will not tell you everything you are entitled to in order to save the company money and it is one of the reasons why you need to update your car insurance policy.

Can you take your car to a glass repair shop?

You should never take your vehicle to a body shop based solely on the recommendation of an insurance company.