If you were injured in a Virginia car accident that was caused by a negligent driver, a skilled car accident lawyer can help you secure the financial compensation the law says you are entitled to for your damages. Before you sign with a law firm, it is essential to do your due diligence and research and interview highly-rated attorneys who regularly handle car accident cases before deciding who you are going to work with. It is important to bear in mind, however, that the choice is not entirely up to you. The lawyer is also assessing your case and is not obligated to take you on as a client.
How do lawyers choose which potential clients they will represent?
When you work with a qualified attorney, your odds of being awarded the financial compensation you deserve are much higher. After being hurt in a car accident for which someone else was at fault, call the Virginia Beach personal injury lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp. You can schedule a free consultation and learn what damages you could be entitled to.
Why Would a Lawyer Choose to Not Represent Me After My Virginia Car Accident?
It is important to understand some of the factors that could cause an attorney to decline a car accident case or any other type of case. A civil suit involves a lot of moving parts and agreeing to take a case involves more than just the strength of your claim against the other party.
Some common reasons a lawyer might decline to represent you after a Virginia car accident are:
Issues Establishing Fault
One of the first things that a lawyer is going to evaluate is the other driver’s degree of fault for causing the crash. If it turns out they were not negligent or their negligence is too hard to prove, they might decide not to take your case.
Damages are Insufficient
Following a serious car accident, you might be eligible for financial compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and more. If, however, the attorney feels that the amount of compensation you would collect is not enough to justify the amount of work that would go into your case, they might choose not to work with you. Some law firms only deal with cases that could potentially have enormous financial settlements, so it does not necessarily mean that your case is invalid or weak if it is turned down for this reason.
There is a Conflict of Interest
Your lawyer might be ethically prevented from taking your case due to a conflict of interest. For instance, if the negligent driver is a family member or someone they represented in the past, he would be unable to represent you regardless of your circumstances.
The Statute of Limitations Lapsed
If you took your time researching attorneys and dragged your feet on meeting with them, the statute of limitations that applies to your case may have lapsed. If this is the case, it is extremely unlikely that any attorney is going to be interested in taking your case.
Consult With a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
Just because one attorney refused to take your case does not mean that you should throw in the towel and give up all hope of being compensated. Take advantage of our free initial consultation and have your Virginia car accident case reviewed and your questions answered by a qualified lawyer.
Schedule a free consultation with the Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp by calling (833) 997-1774 or via the contact form on our website.