Reasons a California Personal Injury Lawyer Won’t Take Your Case

Too Much Risk for the Reward

Los Angeles personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, and won’t get paid unless they win your case. When Los Angeles personal injury lawyers agree to represent you, in essence, they are relying on their skill and expertise to win your case. They are also assessing how much your case is worth, how long it will take to win the case, how much it will cost them to see the case to the end, etc.

An attorney may decide against taking your case because your injuries are minor, you were mostly to blame for the accident, or the person responsible for the accident didn’t have much liability insurance or none at all. In effect, if an LA personal injury lawyer doesn’t think they will be able to make enough to cover their time and expenses, it is unlikely they will take the case.  

The Accident Happened Out-of-State

If you were injured in an out-of-state accident and want to hire a personal injury attorney from your home state, it may be problematic. Personal injury attorneys, by law, must be licensed in the state the accident occurred. For instance, if you had an accident in California, and you live in Florida, you may hire a California personal injury lawyer, or a Florida personal injury lawyer licensed in California.

The Case is Too Complex to Handle

When a Los Angeles personal injury law firm looks at a case, they consider many things. How many people may be at fault, how much liability insurance coverage is available, the cost of depositions, mediation, investigations, and expert testimony, as well as Risk vs. Reward, among others. With that in mind, you can understand why small personal injury firms are generally not able to handle complex personal injury cases.  If a Los Angeles personal injury law firm decides that a personal injury case is too complicated for them to pursue, they may not offer to take the case.

You’ve Been Shopping LA Personal Injury Attorneys  

It’s a good idea to talk with more than one lawyer to find one that you feel comfortable talking with, and who has the expertise in the subject area you require. After an accident, you’ll want to hire an attorney with experience in personal injury claims. Some attorneys will bait you by saying that they can get you more money than other lawyers, while others may tell you they can settle your claim quickly. Remember, attorneys cannot guarantee financial results, and they should never rush a case.

On the same token, attorneys are wary of clients who talk with several attorneys while searching for the “best offer.” Attorneys who were 4th, 5th, or 6th on the list will wonder whether the other attorneys turned down the client for reasons for which they are unaware. Did the other attorneys uncover some crucial information that would prevent most lawyers from accepting the case? Whatever the reasons, talking with too many attorneys can be bad for your case.

Governmental Immunity from Liability

Many attorneys don’t accept liability cases against governmental agencies due to legal immunity from liability based on statute or constitutional provision. When someone sues a state or government agency, they may have to comply with lengthy and complicated procedures and rules that would make a lawsuit unprofitable. Many lawyers are unwilling to commit the time, energy, and money to pursue such lawsuits unless there is potential for considerable profit for their clients and themselves.

Attorneys make the final decision whether to accept a particular personal injury case based on its merits or turn it down based on its faults.  If you’ve talked with an attorney who decided against taking your case, don’t give up hope. M&Y Personal Injury Lawyers may be able to help.