You have never spoken to your actual attorney
You signed up with an intake person, a case manager calls occasionally, and the lawyer whose name is on the building has never been on your phone. At some firms, that is the business model.
A Second Opinion Costs Nothing
Unhappy With Your Injury Lawyer? You Can Switch.
You hired a firm off a billboard, and now you cannot get anyone on the phone. You are not stuck. Florida law gives you the right to change lawyers, it usually costs you nothing extra, and your new firm handles the entire transition. Here is how it works.
Written by Attorney Jeff Soud, Florida Bar member. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Want a confidential second opinion today? Call (904) 353-9000 or text the SMART Line™ at (904) 639-5308 anytime.
Free, confidential second opinion · No fee unless we win
Four signs your case is not being worked
Any one of these is worth a second opinion. More than one is a pattern.
Your calls go unreturned
Days or weeks pass between updates. You call and get voicemail, then a different case manager than last time. You should never have to chase your own law firm for information about your own case.
You feel pressure to settle quickly
You are still treating, you do not know the full extent of your injuries, and someone is already talking about accepting an offer. Fast settlements move files; they do not maximize cases.
Nobody can explain what is happening
You do not know what stage your case is in, what the plan is, or what your case might be worth. Confusion is not a normal part of being a client. It is a sign nobody is really working your file.
From Attorney Jeff Soud
How switching actually works
You have the absolute right to change lawyers. It is your case, not theirs. Florida clients can discharge their attorney at any time, for any reason. Your case, your medical records, and your claim belong to you. No firm can hold your case hostage because you are unhappy.
In most cases, switching costs you nothing extra. In a typical contingency case, your former firm may be entitled to a portion of the fee for work already done, paid out of the same contingency fee your new firm earns. The two firms divide one fee. Your percentage generally does not change because you switched.
The new firm handles the transition. You do not have to confront anyone. Once you sign with a new firm, that firm sends the formal notice to your former lawyer and requests the file. There is no awkward phone call for you to make and no argument for you to have. It is handled lawyer to lawyer.
One honest caveat: timing matters. Switching is easiest before a case is deep into litigation or on the eve of trial. If you are unhappy, the best time to get a second opinion is now, not after months more of frustration. A consultation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Switching lawyers, answered honestly
Can I fire my personal injury lawyer in Florida?
Yes. Florida clients have the right to discharge their attorney at any time. Your case belongs to you. The practical questions are about fees and timing, and both usually work out better than unhappy clients fear.
Will I owe two legal fees if I switch lawyers?
Generally no. In a typical contingency case, your former firm's share for work already performed is paid out of the same single contingency fee at the end of the case. The firms divide one fee between them; your recovery percentage generally does not change because you switched.
Do I have to tell my current lawyer I am leaving?
Your new firm handles the formal notice and requests your file. You do not have to make an uncomfortable phone call or justify your decision to anyone.
Will switching lawyers hurt my case?
Done at a reasonable point in the case, no. Your file, records, and evidence transfer to the new firm. What actually hurts cases is months of neglect at a firm that is not working them. If you are getting a second opinion, sooner is better than later.
How do I know if my case is being handled properly?
Ask three questions: What stage is my case in? What is the plan from here? Who is actually working my file? If your current firm cannot give you clear answers, bring those same questions to a free consultation and compare.
What happens at a second-opinion consultation?
You tell us where your case stands and what has frustrated you. We give you an honest assessment: sometimes the current firm is doing fine and we say so. If we believe you would be better served here, we explain exactly how the transition works. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Curious what working with a boutique firm looks like instead? See how your case works here, start to finish.
You already know something is wrong. Find out for sure.
Bring us where your case stands and we will give you an honest, confidential assessment - including telling you if your current firm is doing fine. If you would be better served here, the transition is handled for you, lawyer to lawyer.
Office: (904) 353-9000