How Often Should I Hear From My Personal Injury Lawyer in Miami-Dade?

You should hear from your personal injury lawyer whenever a real development happens in your case, a settlement offer, a court date, a records request fulfilled, or a meaningful response from an insurance company. During slower periods, such as while you’re still getting medical care or waiting for the insurer to review your claim, at least one update per month is reasonable. If your calls and emails go unanswered for more than a week with no explanation, that is not normal and deserves follow-up.

Why is my lawyer quiet for months, is that normal?

Silence during certain phases of a Miami-Dade injury case is common and usually reflects the pace of outside systems, not neglect. Three typical quiet periods include: (1) ongoing medical treatment before you reach maximum medical improvement, (2) the records-gathering phase when your firm waits on hospitals like Jackson Health System, Hialeah clinics, or Nicklaus Children’s to release medical files, and (3) the insurer’s internal review after your demand package is sent. These delays stem from how long providers take to produce records and how insurers operate, not from your lawyer ignoring your file. Keep in mind Florida now has a two-year statute of limitations under FS 95.11, so even during quiet stretches, your case must stay on track. You can learn more about typical timelines in How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take in Miami-Dade?.

What updates should I expect at each stage of my case?

Communication should match the stage of your claim.
Stage 1, Intake and investigation (first 30, 60 days): Frequent contact. Your lawyer gathers the crash report, available only to parties, insurers, and attorneys for the first 60 days under FS 316.066, photos, witness statements, and initial medical records.
Stage 2, Active treatment: Periodic check-ins tied to treatment milestones. You must tell your lawyer immediately about new diagnoses, new doctors, or gaps in care.
Stage 3, Demand and negotiation: You should hear when the demand is sent, when the insurer acknowledges it, and when a counteroffer comes. Weekly or biweekly updates are reasonable during active talks.
Stage 4, Litigation: If a lawsuit is filed, regular updates are reasonable. All hearing dates, depositions, and motions must be communicated promptly.
Stage 5, Settlement or verdict: You must be contacted right away if an offer arrives. Your lawyer should explain the gross amount, fees and costs, any liens, and your net recovery before you decide.

How do I set clear expectations on day one?

Ask specific questions before you sign the retainer agreement. Find out: (1) Who will be your regular contact, attorney, paralegal, or case manager? (2) What is their expected response time for calls and emails? (3) Will you get a monthly status update even if nothing changed? (4) How will they reach you, phone, email, or text? (5) Can all communication happen in Spanish? In Hialeah, where many clients are Spanish-dominant, this last point matters. Wolfson & Leon conducts entire cases in Spanish upon request. Discussing communication norms upfront, not after weeks of silence, can prevent many misunderstandings.

Are lawyers legally required to keep me informed?

Florida’s rules governing attorney conduct (Rule 4-1.4 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar) generally require lawyers to keep clients reasonably informed and to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. However, these rules do not set a fixed schedule for calls or updates. What counts as “reasonable” depends on your case’s stage and complexity. Poor communication is often cited as one of the more common reasons clients file bar complaints. Most gaps in contact are due to workload or system delays, not ethical violations, but if you’ve made multiple documented attempts to reach your lawyer and gotten no reply, that pattern should be taken seriously.

What do I do if my lawyer won’t call me back?

Follow this four-step escalation plan:

1. Send a specific email asking a concrete question, such as “Has the demand letter been sent to GEICO?” Save a copy.
2. If no reply in one business week, call the office and ask for your assigned paralegal or case manager by name. Request a scheduled callback time, not just a promise.
3. If phone and email fail, send a formal written request by certified mail with return receipt requested. This creates proof of delivery and shows you’re serious.
4. If still no response, consult another attorney. Florida law lets you switch firms at any time. The new lawyer handles fee allocation with the prior firm, usually at no extra cost to you. With only two years to file under FS 95.11, prolonged silence cannot be ignored.

How does Wolfson & Leon handle communication for Hialeah clients?

A live person answers the phone at Wolfson & Leon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays. The firm handles every aspect of representation in Spanish for clients who prefer it, which matters in Hialeah’s largely Spanish-speaking community. At intake, ask who your primary contact will be and tell us how you want updates delivered. Call or text us and say you’d like service in Spanish, we’ll make it happen.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal to not hear from my lawyer for two or three months?
It can be normal during slow phases like waiting for medical records or insurer review. But you should still get at least one brief update per month. Complete silence beyond that is not acceptable.

Can I switch personal injury lawyers in Florida if I feel ignored?
Yes. You have the right to change attorneys at any time. The new firm arranges payment with your former lawyer, and you typically pay no extra fee.

What should I tell my lawyer if my medical condition gets worse after I hire them?
Notify them immediately. New symptoms, additional treatments, or extended time off work affect your claim’s value and must be documented early.

How does the 14-day PIP rule affect how quickly my lawyer needs to act?
The 14-day deadline to seek treatment under FS 627.736 is yours, not your lawyer’s. But once hired, your attorney should verify you met it and ensure bills are submitted correctly to preserve your PIP benefits (up to $10,000 with an emergency medical condition, otherwise $2,500).

Does my lawyer have to update me in Spanish if that is my preferred language?
They are not legally required to, but you can and should ask at the start. Firms like Wolfson & Leon provide full Spanish-language representation upon request.

Hurt in an accident in Hialeah? Call Wolfson & Leon at 305-965-3766 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.