NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Legal malpractice Lawyers

Legal Malpractice Lawyers: Holding Attorneys Accountable for Their Negligence

When individuals or businesses seek the services of an attorney, they trust that these legal professionals will represent them competently and ethically. Unfortunately, not all attorneys live up to this standard of care. At times, negligent lawyers make errors or omissions causing harm to their clients. Consequently, clients can turn to legal malpractice lawyers for help in holding these attorneys accountable.

What Constitutes Legal Malpractice?

Legal malpractice refers to the negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or breach of contract by an attorney resulting in harm inflicted on their client. For it to amount to malpractice, the behavior of the lawyer must fall below the required standard of care similar to other attorneys in such situations. This implies that the attorney did not exercise reasonable care, skill, or diligence while representing their client.

Examples of Legal Malpractice

Legal malpractice manifests in numerous ways. Below are some common instances:

Error: An attorney makes a mistake that causes destruction to their client’s case by failing to file an important document on time or missing a crucial deadline.

Negligence: An advocate does not exercise reasonable care while handling a case. For instance, failure to conduct necessary research can negatively impact the outcome of the case.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty: An attorney has a duty to act in favor of their client’s interests. However, acting contrary amounts to breaching their obligation as fiduciaries.

Breach of Contract: Violation occurs if an advocate goes against agreed terms with their clients such as failing on promised service delivery or subjecting them to extra costs than initially communicated.

What Damages are Recoverable in Legal Malpractice Cases?

Clients who have experienced legal malpractice can claim damages for losses incurred due to such actions by lawyers; examples include:

Compensatory Damages: The intention is for these damages’ contribution towards compensating the client for losses resulting from their former attorney’s neglect. They can encompass expenses incurred in correcting damages or professional fees.

Punitive Damages: The court may award these damages to sanction the lawyer’s negligence and resonate as a deterrence measure ensuring other advocates uphold their obligations fully.

Why hire a legal malpractice lawyer?

If you believe that your previous attorney was negligent when handling your case, seek guidance from a legal malpractice lawyer as soon as possible, as time may be of the essence. Such an attorney shall help by accessing if you have a viable case and represent you in negotiations on compensation with the insurance company concerned or previous counsel.

Furthermore, legal malpractice cases are intricate and cumbersome to prove. Hiring an experienced legal malpractice lawyer acquainted with the law and conversant with the legal system is necessary. These attorneys can provide direction and representation suited to guide clients towards receiving fair compensation reflecting the value of damage occasioned by advocates’ errors or misdeeds.

Conclusion

Legal malpractice can upend lives and cause significant losses for clients relying on their advocates for competent representation. Clients experiencing similar incidents should act promptly by consulting legal malpractice lawyers conversant with such matters’ dynamics. The lawyers will ensure proper analysis of your rights, assess your prospects of establishing negligence claims against earlier counsel, and safeguard expenditure and resourceful opportunity for warranting proper compensation measures.