Founding Partner
When you hire an attorney to represent you in a personal injury case, you trust them to fight for your best interests and the compensation you deserve. However, some attorneys make critical errors during the settlement process that leave their clients with far less money than they should have received. These settlement mistakes can affect your financial recovery for years to come. In such cases, you have a right to take legal action and fight for the justice you deserve.
When Settlements Go Wrong
Settlement negotiations require skill, preparation, and dedication. Attorneys who rush through this process or lack sufficient experience might accept offers that fail to cover your long-term needs. Whether or not to accept a settlement is ultimately your decision, but your attorney is responsible for advising you properly about what constitutes a fair offer.
Common Settlement Errors Attorneys Make
When lawyers mishandle settlements, they often make these critical mistakes:
- Premature acceptance: Your attorney settles your case before understanding the full extent of your injuries, resulting in compensation that doesn’t cover future medical needs.
- Poor valuation: Your attorney fails to accurately calculate what your case is truly worth, leaving thousands of dollars or more on the table.
- Inadequate investigation: Your attorney doesn’t gather all the necessary evidence to strengthen your negotiating position.
- Settlement without consent: Your attorney accepts an offer without your explicit permission, which is a serious ethical violation.
- Failure to explain consequences: Your attorney doesn’t explain the potential legal implications or other long-term effects of accepting certain settlement terms.
Signs Your Lawyer May Have Sold You Short
How can you tell if your settlement was mishandled? Watch for these warning signs:
- Unusually quick resolution: Your case settled suspiciously fast compared to similar cases.
- Minimal communication: Your attorney rarely updated you during negotiations or pressured you to accept without explanation.
- Dismissive attitude: Your attorney downplayed your concerns about the settlement amount.
- Surprising terms: The final settlement contained terms or conditions you never discussed.
- Significantly lower amount: Your settlement was substantially lower than what your attorney initially suggested was possible.
The Real Cost of Settlement Errors
When lawyers make these mistakes, the consequences extend far beyond just receiving less money. You might face:
- Insufficient funds for ongoing medical treatment
- Inability to cover lost wages during extended recovery
- Additional expenses that should have been covered
- Stress and anxiety about financial security
- Loss of legal rights that cannot be recovered
Furthermore, you will be left with a sense of profound injustice after being severely let down by someone who had a legal and moral duty to act in your best interests.
Protecting Your Rights After a Settlement Error
If you believe your attorney mishandled your settlement, you have options:
- Request your complete file: You have the right to obtain all documents related to your case.
- Seek a second opinion: Consult another attorney who focuses on legal malpractice.
- Document everything: Keep records of all communications with your former attorney.
- Act promptly: Be aware that a three-year time limit applies to legal malpractice claims in Connecticut.
Your Right to Proper Representation
An attorney who settles your case for less than its worth breaches their professional duty. The attorney-client relationship demands competence, diligence, and loyalty. When attorneys fail to meet these standards during settlement negotiations, they may have committed legal malpractice. If so, you have a right to seek compensation for the losses you suffered due to their actions.
At Stanfield Bechtel Law, we understand the devastating impact of settlement errors. Our Middletown attorneys center our practice around holding other lawyers accountable when they fail their clients. If you suspect your settlement was mishandled, call us today or contact us online for a confidential consultation to review your case and discuss your options.