5 Reasons Attorneys Refer Personal Injury Cases to Us

Nearly 85% of our personal injury cases are referred to us from other attorneys, making our firm one of the top firms in Georgia to receive these types of referrals.

Why an attorney might refer a personal injury case to another attorney:

• Conflicts of interest: If the attorney has a conflict of interest, such as representing another party involved in the same case, they may need to refer the case to another attorney.
• Lack of expertise: If the attorney does not have the necessary expertise to handle the specific type of case, they may refer it to another attorney who specializes in that area of law.
• Heavy case load: If the attorney already has a high volume of cases, they may refer the case to another attorney to ensure that they can give the necessary time and attention to all of their clients.
• Geographical location: If the case involves an accident or injury that occurred in a location that is outside of the attorney’s practice area, they may refer the case to another attorney who is more familiar with the laws and legal system in that area.

If the attorney does not have the necessary expertise to handle the specific type of case, they may refer it to another attorney who specializes in that area of law.

Each of these are worthy of more explanation. Let’s address them one by one.

There are several situations that could create a conflict of interest for an attorney in a medical malpractice case. Some examples include:

• Representing both parties: If the attorney represents both the plaintiff (the patient who is bringing the medical malpractice claim) and the defendant (the medical professional or facility being sued), they may have a conflict of interest because their loyalties would be divided between their two clients.
• Representing a family member: If the attorney represents a family member of the plaintiff, they may have a conflict of interest because they may feel pressure to prioritize the interests of their family member over those of the plaintiff.
• Personal relationship: If the attorney has a personal relationship with the defendant (e.g. they are friends or colleagues), they may have a conflict of interest because they may be more inclined to favor the interests of their friend or colleague over those of the plaintiff.
• Prior representation: If the attorney previously represented the defendant in a different matter, they may have a conflict of interest because they may have confidential information about the defendant that could be relevant to the medical malpractice case.
• Financial interest: If the attorney has a financial interest in the outcome of the case (e.g. they stand to gain financially if the defendant is found not liable), they may have a conflict of interest.

As in conflicts of interest, there are several situations when an attorney might lack the necessary experience to handle a personal injury case and would need to refer it to another attorney. Some examples include:

• Specialized injuries: If the injury sustained by the plaintiff is highly specialized (e.g. a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury), the attorney may need to refer the case to another attorney who has specific expertise in handling these types of injuries.
• Complex legal issues: If the case involves complex legal issues that the attorney is not familiar with (e.g. product liability or premises liability), they may need to refer the case to another attorney who has experience with these issues.
• Unfamiliar jurisdiction: If the case involves an accident or injury that occurred in a jurisdiction where the attorney does not normally practice (e.g. another state or country), they may need to refer the case to another attorney who is familiar with the laws and legal system in that location.
• Lack of resources: If the attorney does not have the necessary resources (e.g. staff or funding) to handle the case, they may need to refer it to another attorney who is better equipped to take on the case.

This is the main reason cases are referred to us. Our attorneys are recognized by their peers as best of the best in complex personal injury case such as catastrophic injuries, birthing injuries caused by medical malpractice, psychiatric malpractice, and wrongful death.

An attorney may refer a case to another attorney due to heavy caseload in order to ensure that they can give the necessary time and attention to all of their clients. Attorneys have a duty to provide competent representation to their clients, which requires them to be adequately prepared and able to devote sufficient time to each case. If an attorney has a high volume of cases, it may be difficult for them to adequately represent all of their clients, particularly if the cases are complex or require a significant amount of time and effort. In this situation, the attorney may decide to refer some of their cases to other attorneys in order to ensure that they can provide the best possible representation to all of their clients.

At Warshauer Woodward Atkins, we intentionally keep a low case load. Each case deserves the attention and resources necessary to achieve a successful outcome.

Geographic Location

One reason might be that the attorney does not have the resources or expertise to handle the case effectively. For example, if the case involves specialized legal issues or requires the testimony of witnesses or experts who are located in a different state, the attorney may feel that they are not the best person to handle the case.

Another reason might be that the attorney is not licensed to practice law in the state where the case will be heard. Attorneys are typically only authorized to practice law in the states where they are licensed, so an attorney who is not licensed in the state where the case will be heard may need to refer the case to someone who is.

Warshauer Woodward Atkins is grateful for the many referrals we receive and being recognized as one of the top personal injury law firms for catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and psychiatric malpractice in the country.