What to Do If My Attorney Colluded with the Other Side?

If your lawyer is dishonest or secretly taking care of the opposition’s interests, it is bad news for you. Especially in the case of car accident lawsuits, there is a higher level of conflict of interest. It demands an honest, responsible, and experienced lawyer’s intervention to get the judge’s decision in your favor. But you cannot be sure, as sometimes lawyers can favor the opposition’s interests in exchange for money. So, how do you identify and address this issue? To assist you in such a case, we answer the question, “What should I do if my attorney colluded with the other side?”

6 Signs That Your Attorney Colluded with The Other Side

If you say my attorney colluded with the other side, it requires evidence to prove it and take any action. So, after suspecting the attorney’s legal malpractice, you must look for the signs described below.

1. Dishonest in Invoicing

Surely, everyone tries to maximize their earnings. But honest people never take shortcuts or get involved in unlawful activities such as fake billing, charging more than the agreed amount, or adjusting the expenses. If you suspect that your attorney is playing for the opponent, check the invoices for any kind of inappropriateness and inaccurateness. In case there is any, your attorney is dishonest and your suspect is true. You must take action immediately before it is too late.

2. Showcasing Weak Preparation to Defend Your Position or Interest

It is obvious that your attorney will not make adequate preparations in case he or she is taking money from the other side. In general, this kind of bribery involves a huge amount of financial gain, which will make your lawyer careless about defending your position or interests. With critical attention, you can observe that the attorney is not competing in the arguments.

In addition, he or she might ask out-of-topic or irritable questions to the stakeholders (case filer(s), opponent(s), witness, police, etc.). It is basically due to no preparation (not reading the case brief, no in-detail analysis of case status, inability to inform the witness to attend a particular session, and so on) to gain solid ground in court.

3. Lack of Seriousness in Attitude

Accepting bribes from the other party will also reflect on the attorney’s attitude. As you cannot fulfill his or her hunger for money, the possible outcome is a lack of seriousness in the attitude. It includes coming late to the court session, forgetting documents at the office, sending inexperienced juniors, trying to stretch the case, etc. A critical analysis of the attorney’s attitude will tell you a lot.

4. Disrespectful to You

If the legal practitioner is secretly acting for the opponent, he or she will obviously showcase disrespectful behavior toward you. If you observe nicely, you will notice that the legal practitioner is not responding to your queries, not giving enough time to listen to you, displaying intolerance if you cannot understand any matter, attending phone calls repeatedly while talking with you, and many more.

However, we suggest you not take action based on one day’s observation. You should look for a pattern and consistency in this disruptive behavior, which is only possible to conclude after several days of observations.

5. Lack of Credibility

A credible legal agent never plays for other parties’ interests. If you suspect that your legal agent is doing so, check for his or her credibility. You can check for the bar association number, reviews from previous clients, and academic backgrounds. In addition, a legitimate lawyer always has some stories, media coverage, his or her name in publications, and a presence in various non-profit organizations. You can also consider this context when evaluating the credibility of your legal agent.

6. You Have to Push Every Time

If your attorney is focused on other patry’s successes, he or she will overlook the points that favor you. And, every time, you have to make him or her remember those points. While overlooking those crucial evidence or matters, he or she will also not take initiative by ownself. You will find yourself in the driver’s seat of your case instead of the legal advisor.

What to Do If My Attorney Colluded with the Other Side?

By evaluating the above-mentioned signs, you are now sure that your lawyer is favoring the other side. So, what to do now?

1. Be Open to the Lawyer

After all, you are paying for the service, and you deserve honesty on the lawyer’s end. Go to the lawyer and tell him or her your thoughts. Here, you must put some serious concerns in your word choice, and your statement must include logic. Listen to the lawyer’s answers. Take some time and discuss the matter with close ones. If you find those answers unsatisfactory, get a new lawyer after a proper background check.

2. Report to State Bar or American Bar Association

If you are certain about the malpractices of your attorney, you can file a complaint to the State Bar and American Bar Association. They have the authority to regulate the dos and don’ts of being a lawyer. Upon receiving the complaint, they will contact you for detailed information and evidence (if you have any). After their investigation, if they find your complaint is valid, the lawyer will face some serious consequences, like a financial penalty, humiliation, the loss of his or her practice license, etc.

3. Sue Your Attorney

Yes, you can sue your attorney on the grounds of “malpractice” and damage to your tangible or intangible assets. However, in this case, you must have some valid evidence to prove the attorney’s devilish act.

Learn More: Can Someone Sue You for a Car Accident if You Have Insurance?

Wrapping Up

We hope now you know the answer to “How to be sure that my attorney colluded with the other side and what to do?” Still, we suggest evaluating all the signs properly before taking action. Also, it is always better to consult with a subject matter expert.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)