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How much is a legal malpractice case worth? When you hire an attorney to represent you, you expect them to be able to provide you with honest and competent services. After all, attorneys must follow rules of professional responsibility. They have a fiduciary duty to fulfill as well.
Unfortunately, not every attorney can or will fulfill their responsibility and duty they should. When this happens, it can cause serious harm to the client. In this post, we help you understand legal malpractice, how much a legal practice lawsuit worth is, and what you can do to maximize the value of your claim.
Understanding Legal Malpractice
Let’s start with the definition first. What is legal malpractice? Legal malpractice happens when an attorney is unable to meet the required level of skill and care that they should provide during the representation.
This can involve any number of omissions or actions on their part. For instance, providing incorrect advice to clients, making mistakes with documents or paperwork, missing deadlines, or engaging in unethical conduct.
If you believe you have been the victim of legal malpractice, you might want to contact an experienced attorney immediately. If you have the right legal representation, you may be able to get compensation for damages or losses caused by your attorney’s negligence.
How Much Is a Legal Malpractice Case Worth?
So, how much is a malpractice lawsuit worth? There isn’t a single answer to this. Each case is different. That said, the average legal malpractice lawsuit may be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The worth of your case can be even higher than that, depending on what your attorney did or did not do. When filing a legal malpractice lawsuit, hire an experienced attorney to represent you and leave nothing to chance.
Damages that You Might Be Able to Recover
So, the answer to “How much is a legal malpractice case worth?” is different from one case to another. What about the damages or losses that you may be able to recover? Here are the damages or losses that you might obtain in a legal malpractice lawsuit.
1. Compensatory damages
These damages are meant to compensate the plaintiff for losses. That is, to make them whole again. Injuries or losses you suffered should be recoverable in your claim.
Compensatory damages can vary from case to case. Some examples include lost business income, lost wages, and loss of consortium.
2. Consequential damages
Consequential damages are the damages caused by the attorney’s negligence. For example, due to legal malpractice, you could not pursue a time-sensitive opportunity after a deal fell through.
In other words, the damages are an indirect result of the negligence of the attorney. To be entitled to these damages, you must show that the damages are a foreseeable consequence of the negligence that took place.
3. Punitive damages
Punitive damages are damages caused by intentional or egregious examples of misconduct.
Also Read:
- Legal Malpractice Divorce Settlement: Important Insights
- Legal Malpractice in Family Law: Risks and Solutions
Tips for Maximizing the Value of Your Claim
While there is no straight answer to “How much is a legal malpractice case worth?” there are several steps you can take to maximize the value of your claim. For instance,
1. Keep a record of communication and any related evidence
If you are considering filing a claim, there are a few steps you can take to maximize the amount of compensation. Firstly, keep records of communication with your attorney.
If there is any other evidence related to your case, keep that as well. This will help back up your claim and provide concrete proof of damages or losses.
2. Consult with other attorneys
It is a good idea to consult with other attorneys regarding the specifics of your situation. By doing so, you can get an objective opinion on your claim’s value and whether or not it should be pursued.
3. Choose the right legal representation
Make sure that you choose an experienced attorney for legal malpractice claims. Find an attorney that has a successful track record of recovering damages and losses for their clients.
An experienced attorney will handle your case effectively. This, in turn, could help you get the fair compensation you deserve.
So, how much is a legal malpractice case worth? Every case is different. On average, a legal malpractice case can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It depends on what the attorney did or did not do.
