Unhappy With Your Car Accident Lawyer? Talk With Ours First.

Can you fire your car accident lawyer? Yes. This page explains what that means in Georgia, how a switch works step by step, and what to check first so your claim isn’t delayed.

Changing lawyers in the middle of a claim raises real questions about files, fees and deadlines. The sections below answer them in plain words and link to each source.

Yes, You Can Fire Your Car Accident Lawyer in Georgia

Yes. Firing a lawyer and a lawyer withdrawing are different steps. When you fire your lawyer, you end the working relationship from your side. When a lawyer withdraws, the lawyer ends it.

Ending the relationship doesn’t end the claim. Your right to pursue an injury claim still exists, and time keeps moving. Georgia’s general deadline for injury claims is two years after the right of action accrues, with some exceptions, under Georgia’s statute of limitations for injuries. That’s why a switch should happen quickly, not drift for months.

Think of the change as a handoff. The file, the deadlines and the insurer contacts all need to move to the new lawyer without gaps.

Who This Page Is For and When Clients Consider Changing Lawyers

This page is for people hurt in a Georgia car, truck or motorcycle crash who are unsure whether to keep their current lawyer. Clients often weigh a change when something about the claim feels off.

Common reasons include:

• You hear little or nothing about your claim for long stretches.
• Updates are vague, and you don’t know who is handling the next step.
• You disagree with how settlement talks are being handled.
• Your health or work situation has changed, and you want a plan that fits it.

Ask yourself three questions:

• Do I understand where my claim stands?
• Do I know the next step and who is handling it?
• Am I comfortable with how decisions are made?

If you answered “no” to any of these, a second look makes sense. Getting a second opinion on how your claim is handled is a fair step. Our team can review your situation at a free first consultation.

How Changing Car Accident Lawyers Works, Step by Step

The switch usually moves through a few clear steps. Doing them in order keeps the claim on track.

Step 1: Put the change in writing. Name the date the change takes effect and ask for your file.

Step 2: Request your complete file. Ask for medical records, the police report, photos, letters from insurers, and billing records. Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance advises drivers to notify police and their insurer promptly, collect accident and witness information, and document the scene, per Georgia auto claim tips. Those records make a clean handoff possible.

Step 3: The new lawyer notifies the insurer. The new lawyer tells the insurer about the new representation and requests the file transfer. If the Georgia State Patrol investigated, victims or family members can ask for the status of the investigation, according to Georgia Department of Public Safety victim assistance.

Confirm every deadline. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, except as otherwise provided, actions for injuries to the person must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues. If a city or state vehicle was involved, the notice periods are much shorter. Under city claim notice law, a written claim against a city is due within six months of the event. Under state claim notice law, written notice of a claim against the state is due within 12 months of when the loss was discovered or should have been discovered.

Step 5: Plan the timing. Transfers take longer when the file is large or when providers are slow to release records. The time needed depends on the size of the file.

What Happens to Your Fees and Case Expenses When You Switch

Your current fee agreement sets the starting point for what you may owe if you change lawyers. Read it before you sign anything new.

Our firm handles personal injury matters on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Before you switch, ask both lawyers for these answers in writing:

• What fees, expenses and any liens will apply, and how they will be paid?
• Which expenses have already been spent on your claim?
• How will the file transfer affect your deadlines and your settlement talks?

Ask for an itemized list of costs already paid. That list shows where money has gone before the new lawyer takes over.

Who Handles Your Switch at T. Madden & Associates, P.C.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm led by attorney Terance Madden. The firm has been in practice since 1999. It has offices in Jonesboro in Clayton County, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta.

Terance Madden is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers include Terance Madden and Shenia Madden, and our team includes assistants and office staff.

The firm handles car, truck and motorcycle accident cases, e-bike crashes, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, negligent security and catastrophic injury cases. Our team can talk through where your claim stands at a free first consultation, so you know where things stand before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Firing Your Car Accident Lawyer

Can you fire your car accident lawyer? Here are short answers to common questions.

Talk to Our Team About Switching Your Car Accident Claim

If you’re deciding now whether to replace your lawyer after a crash in Clayton County, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon or Augusta, you need to know where your file stands and what deadline applies. Contact T. Madden & Associates, P.C. through our contact page to start a free case evaluation. You can reach us by phone 24/7.

Our free first consultation is confidential and carries no obligation to continue. (Consulta inicial gratuita, confidencial y sin compromiso.)

Responsible lawyer: Terance Madden, T. Madden & Associates, P.C., with offices in Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta, Georgia.