My PI attorney hasn't done anything in months and I'm losing my mind — anyone else?

Oh man, this hit home. I was in almost the exact situation after my accident — kept getting told records were 'in process' and then found out nothing had actually been requested. I ended up switching attorneys and honestly it was way less disruptive than I feared. The new attorney just had me sign a substitution of counsel form and handled the transition. You don't lose your case by switching, especially if nothing's actually been filed yet.

This is frustrating to read because a slow attorney can actually hurt you in ways you don't see coming. Statutes of limitations are real, and if your attorney is this disorganized with records, what else is slipping? I'd be asking pointed questions about what deadlines exist on your claim right now. Don't wait for him to bring it up.

A few things worth knowing here: first, you're allowed to request a complete copy of your own file from your attorney at any time — that includes all correspondence, records they do have, and any demand or pleadings drafted so far. Second, switching attorneys mid-case is very common in PI. Most new PI attorneys won't charge you extra for the transition; they typically split the contingency fee with the outgoing attorney based on work performed. It's not ideal but it's also not a crisis. Document everything you've done yourself — that forwarded email showing you got the records he never requested is important.

Not legal advice, but what you're describing — an attorney telling you they're waiting on records that were never actually requested — is a legitimate concern. You should at minimum send a written email (not a phone call) clearly asking for a status update, a list of outstanding items, and your case's applicable deadline. That creates a paper trail. If you don't get a satisfactory answer within a few business days, a free consultation with another PI attorney costs you nothing and gives you a second set of eyes on where things actually stand.

From the other side of the table: disorganized plaintiff attorneys are actually pretty common and, frankly, it sometimes worked in our favor. When an attorney is slow to gather records and slow to submit a demand, it drags things out and sometimes pushes cases past points where leverage shifts. I'm not saying that's happening here, but I wouldn't wait around hoping this guy gets it together.

I just want to make sure you're still taking care of yourself through all this stress. Legal stuff is a marathon and the anxiety of feeling like nothing's moving can genuinely affect your recovery. Keep your own copies of ALL your medical records — imaging reports, PT discharge notes, everything. Don't rely on your attorney to be the sole keeper of your health documentation.

Fire him. You already did his job once. How many more times are you willing to? The fact that he responded with a shrug after you handed him completed records tells you everything about how he's going to handle negotiations with the other side's insurance. You deserve someone who's actually working for you.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of still recovering. That's just a lot. It sounds like your instincts about this attorney are right — trust them. You noticed the problem, you solved the problem yourself, and he barely acknowledged it. That's not a partnership.

Genuine question — did you confirm with the provider that they received NO requests ever, or just that a recent request hadn't been fulfilled? Sometimes records departments lose faxes or requests fall through the cracks on their end too. I'm not defending your attorney because the overall pattern sounds bad, but I'd want to be really sure before assuming it's 100% on him.