You hired a lawyer after a Dallas car or truck wreck. You expected the firm to handle the insurance company, gather your records, and help you move forward.
Then you received a call or letter saying the firm would no longer represent you.
You may be wondering whether your case is over, whether another lawyer will take it, and what happens to the work already completed.
A lawyer ending representation does not automatically mean you have no injury claim. It also does not guarantee that another attorney can pursue it. The next step is to understand why representation ended, obtain your file, and have another lawyer promptly evaluate the evidence and deadlines.
At The Wooley Law Firm, our Dallas car accident lawyer can review inquiries from injured people whose previous attorneys stopped handling their claims. You do not need to resolve every question with the former firm before seeking a second opinion.
What Should I Do First After My Lawyer Drops My Case?
Start with these steps:
Save the termination letter and related messages.
Ask whether a lawsuit has been filed and obtain the court and cause number.
Request your file and a written list of known deadlines.
Preserve your photographs, videos, messages, and insurance documents.
Contact another attorney promptly and disclose any approaching deadline immediately.
Tell the second attorney your crash date during the first conversation. If you have a hearing, trial setting, discovery deadline, or court order, send it immediately.
Do not wait for every medical record or the complete file before making that first call.
Why Would a Lawyer Stop Handling an Accident Case?
The reason can affect what a second attorney needs to investigate.
Possible explanations include disputed fault, difficulty connecting the injuries to the wreck, insurance problems, litigation costs, a conflict of interest, communication difficulties, or other circumstances affecting the representation.
Ask the former lawyer to explain the reason in writing, to the extent the lawyer can properly disclose it.
For example:
Did the insurer deny responsibility for the collision?
Did it deny insurance coverage?
Did new evidence change the lawyer’s assessment?
Are medical records or witnesses missing?
Is the issue the likely expense of litigation compared with the potential recovery?
Is the firm ending representation for a reason unrelated to the merits?
A lawyer’s decision to withdraw should comply with applicable professional obligations. A termination letter alone does not tell a second attorney whether the claim is legally viable or whether the withdrawal was proper.
Does an Insurance Denial Mean Another Lawyer Cannot Take My Case?
No. An insurance denial is a position that needs evaluation.
First, determine what was denied.
A liability denial generally means the insurer disputes its insured’s responsibility for the wreck. A coverage denial concerns whether a policy covers the incident or person involved.
Those problems require different investigations.
A disputed lane-change collision might turn on video, witnesses, vehicle damage, or roadway evidence. A coverage dispute might require the policy, endorsements, cancellation history, and information about the driver’s employment or use of the vehicle.
Our article about insurance denials after a Dallas car accident explains that distinction.
A second attorney may identify an avenue worth pursuing, agree with the first firm’s assessment, or need additional information before deciding. A second opinion should provide an independent evaluation.
How Do I Get My File From My Former Lawyer?
Request it in writing and keep a copy of the request. Ask for an electronic copy in a reasonably accessible format, including the documents needed to protect upcoming deadlines.
Under Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(d), a lawyer ending representation must take reasonably practicable steps to protect the client’s interests. Those steps include reasonable notice, time to seek other counsel, and surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled.
Request the following when applicable:
Your signed representation agreement and termination letter.
Crash reports, photographs, videos, and witness information.
Insurance claim numbers, adjuster information, denial letters, and policy documents.
Recorded statements, transcripts, and correspondence.
Medical records, bills, imaging reports, and supporting affidavits.
Demands, settlement offers, and any signed releases.
Filed pleadings, discovery, deposition materials, and court orders.
Scheduling orders and notices of hearings, mediation, or trial.
Preservation letters and responses.
An itemized expense accounting and information about any asserted fee claim.
Ask whether original evidence or physical property is being held separately.
If you authorize direct delivery to a new attorney, keep your own copy of important documents too.
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What If a Lawsuit Was Already Filed?
A pending lawsuit requires particular attention.
Ask for the petition, court information, current docket status, withdrawal motion, any order allowing withdrawal, and all upcoming settings and deadlines.
For Texas state-court civil cases, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 10 governs attorney withdrawal. It requires a written motion showing good cause. When no substitute attorney is identified, the motion must address notice to the client, the right to object, and pending settings and deadlines.
A firm’s closure letter and a court order allowing withdrawal are different documents. Have the second attorney verify who remains counsel of record.
Do not assume the court has paused the case while you look for counsel. Continue opening court notices and preserve every document you receive.
If there is a dismissal, judgment, or proposed nonsuit, provide it immediately. The effect of that document and any deadline to respond need individual review.
Does Changing Lawyers Give Me More Time to File Suit?
Generally, no.
Many Texas personal injury lawsuits are subject to a two-year limitations period under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003. The deadline often runs from the collision, but exceptions and other requirements can change the analysis.
Claims involving governmental entities may also involve substantially shorter notice requirements.
A termination letter, ongoing insurance negotiations, or a consultation with another lawyer does not ordinarily restart the clock.
If the deadline is close—or you think it may already have passed—say so immediately. Do not calculate it yourself or assume that the former lawyer’s letter resolves every timing issue.
What Evidence Should I Preserve While Looking for Another Attorney?
Keep original copies of evidence you already possess:
Dashcam footage and phone photographs.
Messages with drivers, witnesses, insurers, and the former firm.
Vehicle repair estimates and inspection records.
Medical paperwork and appointment records.
Pay records and documentation of missed work.
Notes identifying witnesses or possible cameras.
Retain complete files and original versions. Do not edit away context or delete material because you believe it hurts your case.
Tell the reviewing attorney about evidence that may be held by others. Video can be overwritten, vehicles can be repaired, and electronic records may become unavailable.
For a commercial truck collision, ask whether the former firm sought preservation of relevant driver, company, vehicle, and electronic evidence. A preservation letter is useful information, but it is not proof that every requested item was retained.
Our Dallas truck wreck lawyer can evaluate what evidence remains available and what further investigation may be appropriate.
What Does a Second Attorney Need to Evaluate My Case?
A useful intake begins with a short, accurate summary:
When and where the crash occurred.
Who was involved.
Why fault or coverage is disputed.
Your injuries and current treatment.
The former firm’s explanation for ending representation.
Whether suit was filed.
Any known deadlines, settlement offers, or signed documents.
Provide the unfavorable facts too. Prior injuries, inconsistent statements, another collision, treatment gaps, or a crash report blaming you may affect the evaluation.
Those facts should be examined in context. For example, our article about being partly at fault for a Texas car accident discusses why responsibility deserves careful review.
The second lawyer will also need to assess available coverage, damages, potential litigation costs, and whether there is enough time to take necessary action.
A consultation or agreement to review records is not necessarily an agreement to represent you. Confirm whether the attorney has accepted the case and what work the representation covers.
Will I Owe My Former Lawyer Fees or Expenses?
The answer depends on your agreement, why representation ended, the work performed, and applicable law.
Do not assume that the former lawyer automatically receives the full contingency fee. Do not assume every fee or expense claim disappears either.
Give the second attorney the original contract, any asserted lien or fee notice, the expense accounting, and any proposed release of the former firm’s interest.
Before signing a new agreement, ask how prior fees and expenses will be addressed and how any unresolved claim could affect your recovery.
A disagreement over fees should be evaluated alongside the need to protect the injury claim. Do not let an unresolved accounting prevent you from seeking timely advice about an approaching deadline.
Has The Wooley Law Firm Helped Someone After Another Firm Dropped the Case?
Our homepage includes a testimonial from Craig L. Berry describing that experience. He reports that another firm ended representation after the insurer denied liability and that he later hired Mr. Wooley and obtained compensation.
You can read his account on The Wooley Law Firm’s homepage.
That testimonial describes one client’s experience. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and an attorney must independently evaluate each case.
The relevant question is what the evidence, law, deadlines, and available recovery sources support in your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Another Lawyer Take a Denied Accident Case?
Potentially. Another lawyer may consider a claim involving disputed liability or coverage, but acceptance depends on the facts, evidence, damages, deadlines, and other practical considerations.
Should I Wait Until I Receive My Entire File?
No. Start contacting attorneys while requesting the file. Provide the crash date and known deadlines immediately, then supplement the records as they arrive.
Does My Lawyer Dropping the Case Mean the Lawyer Committed Malpractice?
No. Withdrawal can occur for legitimate reasons. Whether an attorney failed to meet a legal duty and caused harm requires a separate, fact-specific review.
Should I Stop Medical Care Until I Find a New Lawyer?
Treatment decisions belong to you and your healthcare provider. Tell the provider about changes in representation and discuss payment arrangements. Do not assume existing bills or payment obligations disappeared.
Can I Sign the Insurance Company’s Release While Looking for Counsel?
Have the document reviewed before signing. A settlement release may resolve claims that a second attorney otherwise could have evaluated. Send the proposed release and any offer deadline with your consultation request.
Talk With a Dallas Car or Truck Accident Lawyer About Your Next Steps
Being dropped by a law firm can leave you uncertain about what to do. You can seek another evaluation without first deciding whether the former attorney was right or wrong.
The Wooley Law Firm can review inquiries involving ended representation, disputed fault, insurance denials, and unresolved injury claims. Bring the termination letter, crash date, available records, and any deadline information.
Call (214) 699-6524 or contact The Wooley Law Firm for a free consultation. If a lawsuit is pending or a deadline is approaching, mention that when you first contact the office.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it or requesting a consultation does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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Andrew J. Wooley
Personal Injury Attorney
Andrew J. Wooley is a dedicated personal injury attorney based in Dallas, Texas. He focuses on helping accident victims recover fair compensation for their injuries. With a commitment to personalized service, Andrew works directly with each client to understand their unique situation and fight for their rights.
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