Personal injury lawyers may turn down cases for numerous reasons; one of the most well-known being that the time and costs that the attorney may incur will not be offset by the amount of compensation that is ultimately awarded.
However, there are lesser known reasons that an attorney may decline your case.
One such reason is that the case involves a “novel issue” that the lawyer does not have the necessary experience to handle. The research time it would take to get the lawyer up to speed on the issue may not be worthwhile based on the amount of compensation to the plaintiff and the fees the attorney would receive.
Similarly, an attorney might choose to avoid a complicated case that involves challenges such as governmental immunity, federal court jurisdiction or other jurisdictional matters.
The important thing is not to be discouraged if the first attorney you reach out to declines your case. You may end up interviewing several different personal injury lawyers before finding the right fit!
Has your case been turned down by an attorney? Were you able to find another attorney to take your case? Please share your story below.