Arkansas Legal Malpractice Attorneys
Lawyers are supposed to follow a code of conduct and provide their clients with competent, quality, and honest legal representation. Unfortunately, a negligent act could cause various losses that would not have occurred if the lawyer had exercised care in handling the case. At Law Offices of Gary Green, we understand the ramifications of an error that leads to a denied insurance claim or dismissed lawsuit. We can pursue legal action against the careless attorney and seek the compensation you deserve.
Whether you were injured in a car accident or needed assistance with a contractual issue, you might have hired someone to represent you in your case. If they violated any state laws regarding the standard of care they must follow or behaved negligently in any way, you could hold them liable for their actions.
The Arkansas legal malpractice attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green understand the devastating consequences of your lawyer’s error. Sometimes, a mistake is just a mistake and doesn’t cause many problems. However, there are other times when a missed deadline, inadequate investigation, or another issue can cause you to lose your legal case. You should not suffer the consequences of someone else’s wrongdoing.
Let us help you hold them accountable for what they’ve done so you can get your life back on track. Call Law Offices of Gary Green at 888.442.7947 today for a free consultation.
What Is Legal Malpractice?
Legal malpractice and legal negligence are two terms used interchangeably to describe a situation where a lawyer failed in their duty to represent a client adequately. It’s the failure to provide reasonable and/or ethical representation that resulted in monetary losses.
Victims of legal malpractice are often left with more than just a financial burden if their lawyer negligently represented them. Some people are suffering from injuries following a car accident or slip and fall. Medical treatment is expensive and something many victims can’t afford. A denied insurance claim means they won’t receive the settlement they need to pay their medical bills, and that could mean they end up with massive debt.
The most common types of legal malpractice are:
- Failure to adequately investigate the claim
- Breach of fiduciary duty
- Failure to negotiate a settlement with the client’s best interests in mind
- Missing a deadline, such as a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit
- Submitting incomplete or incorrect legal documents to the court
- Causing tax consequences
- Allowing a conflict of interest to impede appropriate representation
- Lack of proper preparations or planning
- Making decisions without the client’s consent
- Disregarding a crucial witness to the incident
- Stealing from a client’s trust account
- Failure to follow court orders
- Engaging in fraudulent acts
- Lack of knowledge of the law or failure to apply the law to the case
Legal negligence can occur during any type of case. It can cause a range of losses and set you back significantly in the legal process. You shouldn’t be forced to suffer because of your lawyer’s poor judgment or intentional misconduct. You should contact Law Offices of Gary Green immediately so we can review the facts of your case and determine whether we can hold the at-fault party responsible for the harm you endured.
Proving a Legal Malpractice Case
Just because you lost your legal case doesn’t necessarily mean malpractice occurred. Additionally, a mere disagreement with your lawyer doesn’t constitute malpractice either. Specific factors must exist to prove legal malpractice. They include:
- There was a valid attorney-client relationship;
- The lawyer was negligent in representing you; and
- You suffered losses because of the lawyer’s negligent actions.
Proving the first factor, that you had a legal relationship with the attorney, is relatively simple. All you have to do is provide the signed agreement. However, there are times when a contract doesn’t exist. Under certain circumstances, there’s an implied relationship because of the actions or reactions of the attorney. They might have behaved in a way that made you believe you had an attorney-client relationship.
Proving negligence can be a challenge. Legal negligence involves three elements:
- The lawyer violated the required standard of care;
- Breaching this standard caused the client harm; and
- The client suffered losses as a result.
Every error that a lawyer could possibly make doesn’t always mean they were negligent by state law. They must have breached their duty to provide the legal representation that you deserved. Their duty is to exercise the care and diligence that other attorneys in a similar area of law would practice in a similar situation.
Even if you lose your case, you can’t hold your attorney liable if they chose and executed a legal strategy in good faith that similar attorneys would find to be a reasonable strategy.
Showing that you suffered losses due to your attorney’s negligence requires obtaining adequate documentation. That might include bank statements demonstrating the legal fees you paid, costs you weren’t able to recover that were associated with ongoing treatment of a physical injury, and emails between you and the law firm you hired.
How Law Offices of Gary Green Can Help
Legal malpractice cases are often complex and complicated to handle alone. Although you might have lost some confidence in lawyers, you’ll need someone with experience to represent you.
The Arkansas legal malpractice attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green will dedicate our time and attention to each aspect of your case from start to finish. You won’t have to face the burden of handling a case when you have us in your corner. We can advocate for your rights and take on the responsibility for each step on your behalf so you can focus on moving forward with your life.
Extensive investigations into claims of legal malpractice are necessary to determine what happened. When you hire us, we will immediately begin an investigation and focus on every little detail we discover to find a way to hold your incompetent lawyer accountable for what they’ve done. We’ll need to collect substantial evidence to prove your claim, such as:
- Court records
- Attorney-client contracts or agreements
- Testimony from legal experts
- Financial documentation
- Case files and records
- Written communications about the case
Law Offices of Gary Green isn’t intimidated by insurance companies or other law firms. We’re just as experienced and knowledgeable about legal malpractice cases as they may be. We’re willing and able to go to battle for you against the negligent attorney that caused you harm. Our legal team will tirelessly work to try to reach your desired outcome and to help you receive the monetary award you need to compensate for your losses.
Deadline to File a Legal Malpractice Lawsuit
You must comply with the state’s statute of limitations if you want to sue your lawyer for malpractice. This is a strict timeframe that begins on the date of the negligent act. It does not start on the date you realized malpractice occurred.
Arkansas has a three-year statute of limitations. If the deadline passes before you’re able to file suit, you will likely lose your right to pursue legal action against the attorney.
It’s critical that you speak with Law Offices of Gary Green immediately after finding out what happened. Starting the process before time runs out could mean the difference between recovering compensation and losing your case before it even gets started.
Contact Us
The Arkansas legal malpractice attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green believe in fighting for the rights of individuals harmed by negligent lawyers. We can be your legal advocate during this stressful time in your life and provide the guidance and support you need. We will use our knowledge and resources to create a legal strategy to get the job done. You can depend on our legal team to treat you as a priority from start to finish of the case.
Don’t leave the fate of your future in your own hands. You need the help of a dedicated and aggressive attorney to relieve the burden you’re facing so you can focus on what matters most – recovering from this traumatic experience and getting back to your regular routine.
If you suffered losses because of your lawyer’s negligent actions, do not hesitate to contact the Arkansas legal malpractice attorneys of Law Offices of Gary Green at 888.442.7947. We can meet with you for a free initial consultation to discuss what happened and determine your available legal options for holding the at-fault party accountable.