New Smyrna Legal Malpractice Lawyers: Protecting Your Rights with Slater | Grant
When you place your trust in an attorney, you expect diligence, competence, and loyalty. Unfortunately, not every lawyer upholds these professional standards. At Slater | Grant, our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers stand ready to fight for your rights when your previous counsel failed to protect them.
Complete the free case evaluation form or call us now at 813-995-6444 to take the first step toward justice.
What Is Legal Malpractice?
Legal malpractice occurs when an attorney breaches their duty to a client, resulting in financial harm. This may involve negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or conflicts of interest. Our experienced New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers know how to identify these violations and build strong cases for compensation.
Common Examples of Legal Malpractice in New Smyrna
Our team at Slater | Grant has handled a wide array of legal malpractice cases. Some of the most frequent issues include:
Missed Deadlines and Statutes of Limitations
When an attorney fails to file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you could lose your chance to ever pursue your case. This is one of the most common—and damaging—forms of malpractice our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers address.
Failure to Know or Properly Apply the Law
Lawyers are expected to understand the laws that govern their clients’ cases. If your attorney misunderstood key legal principles or failed to conduct adequate research, that oversight could have caused your loss.
Inadequate Investigation or Discovery
Strong cases require solid evidence. If your lawyer did not investigate the facts thoroughly or failed to engage in discovery to gather necessary documents or depositions, you may have grounds for a malpractice claim.
Conflicts of Interest
Attorneys owe their clients undivided loyalty. If your lawyer represented another party whose interests conflicted with yours, or put their own interests above yours, this could be a breach of fiduciary duty.
How Our New Smyrna Legal Malpractice Lawyers Build Your Case
At Slater | Grant, we approach every malpractice case with meticulous care. Here’s how we advocate for you:
Detailed Case Evaluation
Our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers will perform a comprehensive review of your original case files, court documents, and attorney communications. We work with expert witnesses when needed to determine whether your former lawyer’s conduct fell below professional standards.
Calculating Your Damages
To succeed in a malpractice claim, we must prove not just negligence, but that it caused you financial harm. We carefully analyze how your attorney’s mistakes directly impacted your case outcome and quantify those losses.
Aggressive Litigation or Settlement Negotiations
We prepare every malpractice case as if it will go to trial, putting pressure on opposing parties to settle fairly. If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, our skilled trial lawyers are ready to advocate before a judge and jury.
The Role of Expert Witnesses in Legal Malpractice Cases
One critical aspect that often determines the success of a legal malpractice claim is the involvement of expert witnesses. At Slater | Grant, our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers recognize the importance of expert testimony in establishing the standard of care your previous attorney was expected to uphold and proving how their actions deviated from that standard.
What Is an Expert Witness in Legal Malpractice?
An expert witness is typically a licensed attorney with extensive experience in the same area of law as your original case. Their role is to review all relevant case materials and provide an objective professional opinion on whether your former lawyer acted competently or negligently.
Why Are Expert Witnesses Crucial?
In legal malpractice cases, simply alleging that your attorney made a mistake is not enough. The court requires clear evidence that the attorney breached the accepted professional standard of care. Expert witnesses provide this by:
- Explaining complex legal procedures and duties in terms understandable to judges and juries.
- Demonstrating how a competent attorney would have handled the case differently.
- Establishing the direct connection between the attorney’s breach and your financial harm.
How We Utilize Expert Witnesses at Slater | Grant
Our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers collaborate closely with carefully selected experts who bolster your claim with credible, detailed testimony. This partnership strengthens the foundation of your case, whether during settlement talks or at trial, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome.
Why Choose Slater | Grant for Your Malpractice Claim?
Our firm is widely respected for holding negligent professionals accountable. Here’s what sets our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers apart:
- Focused Experience: We have a deep understanding of both the underlying legal matters (whether personal injury, business, or real estate) and the unique challenges of proving attorney malpractice.
- Reputation for Excellence: Insurance companies and defense counsel know we build airtight cases and won’t back down.
- Client-Centered Service: We keep you informed at every step and fight relentlessly for your best interests.
Deadlines for Filing a Legal Malpractice Case in Florida
Florida law typically imposes a two-year statute of limitations on legal malpractice claims, starting from the time you discovered or should have discovered the malpractice. However, complex exceptions can apply. Waiting too long can bar your claim entirely. That’s why it is critical to consult our New Smyrna legal malpractice lawyers right away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Malpractice
Can I Sue My Lawyer Just Because I Lost My Case?
Not every unfavorable outcome is malpractice. We must show your attorney failed to meet reasonable professional standards and that this directly caused your damages.
What Compensation Can I Recover?
Depending on the facts, you may recover the value of the claim lost due to malpractice, additional legal costs you incurred, and sometimes interest or other consequential losses.
Will I Have to Testify Against My Former Lawyer?
Often yes, though many cases settle. We will prepare you thoroughly if your testimony is needed to explain how your attorney’s conduct harmed your case.
Take Action with Our New Smyrna Legal Malpractice Lawyers
If you suspect your lawyer’s mistakes cost you the justice you deserved, we urge you not to wait. The sooner you act, the stronger your case can be. Contact Slater | Grant today to discuss your situation. Complete our free case evaluation form or call us now at 813-995-6444. We’re here to help restore your faith in the legal system and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Sources
- Florida Bar: Client Rights and Responsibilities
A helpful overview from The Florida Bar about what clients should expect from their attorneys, including duties of competence and loyalty. - Legal Malpractice
A detailed explanation of legal malpractice elements, including negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. - American Bar Association – Statute of Limitations in Legal Malpractice
Guidance on how statutes of limitation apply to malpractice cases and why timely action is critical.
