Can I Change Car Accident Lawyers in California?

If you’ve found this page, the odds are you are currently unhappy with your car accident lawyer.  

You might even be wondering if it’s possible for you to switch your car accident lawyer in California.

The short answer is yes, you can change your car accident lawyer. There is no law in place preventing you from switching lawyers in the state of California. 

There is a specific process to follow if this is the desired path you want to take – 

• First, you would sign up with a new car accident lawyer. 
• Your new lawyer will send a letter to your previous attorney, informing them that you have hired a new counsel. 
• Your old attorney cannot contact you after receiving that letter. 
• Your old attorney will be entitled to a lien on the case. This means that your new attorney and old attorney will split the attorney fees between one another upon a successful closed case or settlement. 
• It will not cost the client (you) any additional fees to switch lawyers. 

Changing lawyers can be stressful, but there is most likely specific motivation for your potential switch. There may be several reasons one would want to change your car accident lawyer, including:

• Poor communication – Your lawyer has stopped returning phone calls, emails, or texts, leaving you uninformed about the status of your case.
• Settling – Your lawyer may try pressuring you to accept a settlement that you don’t agree with.
• Pushing for another deal – Similar to settling, your lawyer may send you in a direction you don’t believe is best for your case.
• Lack of professionalism – this ties into poor communication. Your lawyer may seem uninterested, or even bothered, by your case. This can be frustrating to victims who are searching for help and hope after an accident.

There are a few important things to look for when hiring a new car accident lawyer:

• Honesty – A good lawyer will be transparent with you about your case. They will hold nothing back, and let you know the truth if something is going wrong.
• Experience – Quantity doesn’t always beat quality. Having a lawyer who brings more success to their clients in a shorter period of time may be more beneficial than someone who has more years practicing, but not as much success.
• Professionalism – Since you may not talk to only your lawyer, having a supportive staff can ease the experience. Knowing their administrative support team can be a boon to your happiness with the firm.
• Communication – Don’t wait on the backburner.  A lawyer and their staff should regularly communicate with you regarding your case. Lack of communication is one of the main reasons for changing lawyers, and if you get the feeling a new lawyer may do the same, you might want to rethink your decision. 

Choosing a new car accident lawyer may seem like a daunting task.  After all, the State Bar of California licenses over 266,000 attorneys to practice law in the Golden State. 

If you’re looking for a new lawyer, the Los Angeles car accident attorneys at C&B Law Group are here to help. From Los Angeles to Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach, or Burbank and Glendale to Long Beach, our professional staff and honest team are here to represent you. 

We have decades of experience handling car crash cases.  We know about the physical pain that may be caused by such accidents. 

You may be dealing with injuries such as:

• Traumatic Brain Injury 
• Neck Injuries
• Back Injuries
• Cuts and Bruises
• Sprains 
• Broken or fractured bones
• Whiplash
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage

If you or a loved one are looking for a new car accident lawyer after a crash in the LA area, contact C&B Law Group today about a free consultation.