Why Your Car Accident Lawyer Isn't Returning Calls

A solo personal injury attorney or small firm may handle dozens of cases simultaneously, and some high-volume firms assign even more per attorney. This does not excuse poor communication, but it helps explain why cases nearest trial or settlement deadlines often get priority attention.

Most firms delegate routine communication to paralegals, case managers, or legal assistants. This is actually standard practice and not necessarily a sign that your case is being neglected. The attorney reviews strategy and makes key decisions, while support staff handles records collection, scheduling, and status inquiries. If you have never spoken to the attorney directly, that may be normal depending on your case stage. But if you have specifically asked to speak with the attorney and been denied repeatedly, that is a different situation.

There is a period in almost every car accident case, typically lasting 3 to 9 months, where very little legal action is happening. Your lawyer is waiting for you to complete medical treatment so they can calculate the full value of your claim. During this period, the honest update is often: "We are waiting for you to finish treatment and for all medical records to come in." Some firms communicate this proactively. Many do not, and that gap creates anxiety.

This dead zone can be strategically important. Filing a demand or entering negotiations before treatment is complete often results in a lower settlement because the full extent of injuries is not yet documented. A lawyer who rushes this phase to create movement may be hurting case value. Patience during treatment often leads to stronger documentation.

Normal silence looks like: no updates during active treatment, brief periods between case milestones, or your paralegal responding instead of the attorney. These situations, while frustrating, are generally not cause for alarm. A well-run firm will still respond to direct inquiries within a few business days, even if the answer is simply that nothing new has happened.

Genuine red flags include: no response to written communication for more than two weeks, missed court deadlines or statute of limitations concerns, the attorney or key staff leaving the firm without notification, being unable to reach anyone at the firm by any method, or discovering that your case file has not been worked on at all. If you experience any of these, it may be time to consult another attorney about your options.