In Georgia, personal injury lawyers are held to high ethical standards by the State Bar. The Bar has established rules of professional conduct that lawyers must abide by and follow, especially those that practice personal injury law. You can click here to learn more.
By upholding ethical standards imposed by the State Bar, personal injury lawyers can maintain the trust and confidence of their clients and the public. These are some crucial ethical considerations that personal injury lawyers in Georgia must abide by.
Duty of Confidentiality
Just like medical professionals, personal injury lawyers must keep their client’s information confidential and not disclose it without their consent. There might be some exceptions to this, particularly if the information is crucial to their case. However, the fundamental rule is that personal information shouldn’t be disclosed without prior consent.
Duty of Communication
Personal injury lawyers must keep their clients informed about the status of their cases and respond to their inquiries promptly. Clients have the right to be informed about any changes throughout their case to make informed decisions in good time without affecting their case negatively.
Duty of Competence
All lawyers have a duty to provide competent representation to their clients and help them in endeavors related to their cases. Lawyers must have appropriate legal knowledge in their area of practice, be thorough, and be able to prepare any paperwork necessary to handle their client’s cases.
Lawyers that don’t have the necessary experience to help clients with their cases should communicate this and not take the case. They should direct clients to other lawyers who can help them.
Duty of Loyalty
Legal matters in personal injury cases often involve large sums of money, and people receiving lower compensation than they deserve for their damages is common. Under the duty of loyalty, personal injury lawyers must act in their client’s best interest and avoid conflicts of interest.
Prohibition on False or Misleading Advertising and Inappropriate Solicitation
Personal injury lawyers are prohibited from making false or misleading statements in their advertising or solicitation of clients. This ethical standard prevents misleading advertising, such as guaranteeing a win for a case. Lawyers can showcase or speak about their track record of success, but it must be accurate and true.
When it comes to in-person, live telephone, or real-time electronic solicitations of potential clients, personal injury lawyers are forbidden to communicate with them if they are not seeking legal services.
Apart from these ethical considerations, personal injury lawyers in Georgia must comply with the Georgia Rules of Civil Procedure and the Georgia Code of Professional Responsibility, which offer additional guidance on ethical conduct in the legal profession.
Suppose you worked with a personal injury lawyer in Georgia that you believe broke the ethical rules of conduct in the legal profession. In that case, you can report them by filing a complaint with the State Bar of Georgia.
To find a good and fair personal injury lawyer for your case, always check their reviews, certifications, and testimonials, and remember to ask relevant questions during your consultation to learn more about them.
