Tennessee Injury Law Center
I am thinking about filing a personal injury case. What are my responsibilities to my lawyer?
The lawyer / client relationship is a special one and, just like a lawyer has certain obligations to the client, a client must do certain things to assist the lawyer in the representation. We expect the following of our clients:
- You have an obligation to tell your lawyer the truth.
- You have an obligation to tell your lawyer the truth even if you think it will hurt your case or the truth embarrasses you.
- You have an obligation to truthfully testify at trial and in depositions.
- You have an obligation to truthfully answer interrogatories.
- You have an obligation to produce documents and other items in your possession that your lawyer asks you to produce.
- You have an obligation to timely respond to your lawyer’s requests for information.
- You have an obligation to let your lawyer know of changes in your medical condition.
- You have an obligation to let your lawyer know if you move or you change your phone number.
- You have an obligation to tell your lawyer if you are injured in another incident.
- You have an obligation to tell your lawyer if you are arrested or get a traffic ticket.
- You have an obligation to tell your lawyer if you are contemplating filing for bankruptcy.
- You have an obligation to listen to and carefully consider your lawyer’s advice. You are not required to take the advice, but you should listen carefully to the advice and the potential impact to your case if you do not take the advice.
Filing a lawsuit is a serious endeavor and you should not take it lightly. While a lawyer will do the vast, vast majority of the work on your case, there are certain things only you can do and other things that the lawyer (and the legal system) have a right to expect of you.