A person who gets injured through the action of another is legally entitled to a fair settlement based on the amount of injuries sustained. On the other hand, just because a person was wronged does not mean that he or she has a good legal case. People are often frustrated when an attorney passes on a potential claim. There are many reasons why an attorney may not be interested. Understanding the reasons that a law firm will not take up a case can help a potential litigant to decide what to do when one firm isn’t interested.
Lack of Injury
One of the most common problems with a potential case is that the client suffered only a small physical injury. Though pain and suffering, shock, and emotional distress are all genuine, there is rarely a good case without measurable injuries. If an individual did not seek medical care, or a doctor signed off on a clean bill of health after an accident, that minimizes the compensation. For example, the value of a lawsuit is usually limited to the cost of the damage to the car when there is no provable physical injury.
Unreasonable Demands
The large settlements and court awards that make the news create a false expectation in the minds of the public. The truth is that large grants make the news because they are rare. Injury settlements rarely reach into the millions of dollars. As an example, a 2018 study found that the average car accident settlement is about $20,000. A law firm may quickly turn down a client who has an unreasonable expectation or appears to be shopping attorneys for the best quote.
Financial Interest
Attorneys practice law for many different reasons. Like most people at any job, may lawyers are passionate, happy, and invested in their work and clients. At the end of the day, though, everyone has to make money. If an attorney feels that there is not enough money to cover the expenses of the potential case, they will likely not be interested. Whether a case goes to trial or is settled before trial, there will usually be significant costs. It isn’t a good use of the attorney’s time, or the client’s time, to pursue a case with little financial return.
Conflict of Interest
Conflicts of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, frequently occurs when large companies are involved. An attorney should not have a relationship with the company or individual being sued. If such a connection exists, the attorney will pass on the case and may not even be willing to offer an opinion on the validity of the argument.
Finding an Experienced Attorney
If you’re looking for a law office to take your case, speak to the friendly lawyers at Salpeter Gitkin, LLP. With decades of experience, our goal is to help clients receive the best possible outcome. You deserve compensation if you are injured in an accident. Call us at 954-467-8622 for a free case evaluation. Our attorneys are happy to answer any questions you have about your case.
