Education
Switching Personal Injury Attorneys: When and How
• 2 min read
If your attorney isn't communicating or moving the case, you can switch. Here's how it works.
You have the right to discharge your personal injury attorney at any time. The fired attorney may have a lien on the case for work performed, but that's resolved at settlement.
Common reasons to switch: communication failures (calls and emails not returned), case stagnation (no apparent progress for months), strategic disagreements, or loss of trust.
New attorneys are usually willing to take cases mid-stream. Many will evaluate the case and negotiate the prior attorney's lien down to a reasonable share.
Switching attorneys doesn't reset the statute of limitations. Make sure new representation is in place before discharging the old.
Pre-settlement funding agreements survive attorney changes. AARC continues to work with whoever represents the case.
Call (800) 297-3834 with questions about funding during an attorney transition.
Frequently asked questions
- Will taking an advance reduce my settlement?
- The advance plus its flat fee is repaid out of the settlement, so your net proceeds are reduced by that amount. It does not affect the gross value your attorney negotiates.
- Is a pre-settlement cash advance a loan?
- No. It is non-recourse funding tied to your personal injury claim. There are no monthly payments, and if your case does not recover, you owe nothing.
- Do I need good credit or a job to qualify?
- No. AARC does not run a credit check and does not require employment or income verification. Approval is based on the strength of your claim and your attorney's representation.
- How fast can I get funded?
- Most approved applicants receive funds in as little as 24 hours once AARC has the case documents from your attorney.
- How much does it cost?
- AARC uses a flat fee rather than compounding monthly interest. Typical advances are $500, $750, or $1,000, and the illustrative payoff at settlement is 2x the advance amount.
About the author
Written by the funding team at AARC — Accident Advance & Resource Center. AARC underwrites pre-settlement cash advances for personal injury claimants and works directly with plaintiff attorneys across 45 states. Our team reviews case documentation daily and writes from that firsthand experience.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Always confirm details with your attorney. Contact AARC or call (800) 297-3834 with questions about your specific case.
