Short Answer

Usually, yes. A client generally may end an attorney-client relationship, including one created by a signed personal injury agreement, but ending the relationship may not erase responsibility for reasonable fees or case expenses already earned or incurred. If you signed paperwork with a second firm by mistake, have your chosen lawyer review both agreements and coordinate written notice before either firm takes further action.

First Confirm Which Law Firm You Want to Represent You

Signing documents with two law firms can create confusion about who is authorized to handle your North Carolina personal injury claim. Both firms may believe they have permission to request records, contact an insurer, gather medical information, or negotiate on your behalf.

The first step is to decide which lawyer you want handling the matter. Then tell that lawyer about every document you signed. Do not assume the second agreement is invalid merely because it was signed by mistake. Its effect may depend on the language of the agreement, how it was presented, whether representation began, and what work the second firm performed.

Your chosen lawyer can help determine whether the paperwork was a representation agreement, a medical-record authorization, an insurance authorization, or another type of document. These papers do not all have the same purpose or effect.

How to End the Second Representation Clearly

A clear written notice is usually the safest way to prevent further confusion. Coordinate with your chosen lawyer and consider taking these steps:

1. Identify the matter. Include your name, the date of the incident, and any claim number if available.
2. State your decision directly. Say that you are ending the firm’s authority to represent you and that another lawyer is handling the claim.
3. Withdraw unnecessary authorizations. Ask whether separate medical, employment, or insurance authorizations must also be revoked in writing.
4. Request confirmation. Ask the firm to confirm that it will stop working on the claim and identify any insurer, provider, or other party it contacted.
5. Request the file and an itemized statement. Ask for copies of documents collected, correspondence sent, costs advanced, and any claimed fee.
6. Coordinate notices. Your continuing lawyer may need to notify the insurer, medical providers, or court about who now represents you.

Keep copies of the notice and proof that it was delivered. A telephone conversation may help, but a written record reduces the chance that two firms will continue giving different instructions.

For more information about handling uncertain paperwork, see this discussion of what may happen if you may have signed an agreement with another law firm after an accident.

Ending the Agreement Does Not Always End Fee or Cost Issues

North Carolina personal injury agreements often use a contingent fee, meaning the fee depends on whether there is a recovery. Such an agreement should be written and should explain how the fee is calculated, how expenses are handled, and whether the client may owe expenses if there is no recovery.

Discharging a lawyer does not necessarily mean that two full contingent fees will be charged. However, a former lawyer who performed meaningful work may assert a claim for the reasonable value of that work. The agreement may also address reimbursement for expenses such as record charges, filing fees, or investigation costs.

The amount, if any, may depend on the contract, the work completed, the reason the relationship ended, and North Carolina law. If lawyers from different firms propose sharing a fee, the client generally must agree to the arrangement and confirm it in writing. Any fee dispute should be identified early rather than left until settlement funds arrive.

Our related explanation of fees and costs after changing personal injury lawyers discusses this issue in more detail.

What If a Lawsuit Has Already Been Filed?

If the claim is still being handled outside court, changing or ending representation is often mainly a matter of written notice and file transfer. If a lawsuit has already been filed, additional steps may be required. The departing lawyer may need permission from the court to withdraw, and the new lawyer may need to file a notice of appearance or substitution.

Those procedural requirements do not usually prevent a client from choosing different counsel, but they must be handled correctly. Until the court record is updated, deadlines, hearings, discovery requests, and other obligations may continue.

Protect the Injury Claim While the Representation Is Sorted Out

A disagreement about representation should not interrupt the underlying claim. Gather and preserve:

• Every representation agreement or intake form you signed.
• Medical, employment, insurance, and record-release authorizations.
• Emails, text messages, letters, and call notes from both firms.
• Insurance claim numbers and adjuster contact information.
• Medical bills, visit summaries, and records already collected.
• Letters of representation sent to insurers or medical providers.
• Any settlement offer, release, check, or court document.
• An itemized list of expenses either firm says it advanced.

Do not let an insurer assume that changing lawyers pauses a legal deadline. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52, many North Carolina personal injury actions are subject to a three-year filing period, although different claims and circumstances may have different rules. Claim discussions, medical updates, and settlement negotiations do not automatically extend the deadline for filing a lawsuit.

How This Applies When You Already Had a Lawyer

If you were contacted for a medical-treatment update and then realized that you may have signed paperwork with a second firm, promptly tell your original lawyer. Provide a copy of everything you signed and explain how and when the paperwork was presented. Your lawyer can determine whether the second firm contacted an insurer, requested records, opened a file, or performed other work.

A short, coordinated written notice may be enough to clarify that the second firm no longer has authority to act. If the second firm claims fees or expenses, request the agreement and an itemized explanation rather than assuming the claim is valid or invalid. The goal is to establish one clear point of contact without losing records, duplicating work, or missing a deadline.

When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help

Wallace Pierce Law may be able to review the agreements, identify which authorizations were signed, and explain the practical steps for ending an unwanted representation. The firm may also help communicate with prior counsel, arrange transfer of the file, determine who has contacted the insurer, and review claimed fees or expenses.

If litigation is pending, counsel can evaluate what court filings may be needed to update the representation. The precise options depend on the contracts, the work already performed, the status of the injury claim, and any approaching deadlines.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Durham

If your question involves injuries, insurance, fault, medical documentation, settlement paperwork, or a possible deadline, speaking with a licensed North Carolina attorney can help clarify your options. Call 919-313-2737 to discuss what happened and what steps may make sense next.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina personal injury law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not medical advice, tax advice, or insurance policy interpretation. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there may be a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.