Personal injury accidents are common in Middletown, Connecticut. Yet, many injury victims are skeptical about hiring personal injury attorneys. Several factors inform this hesitancy. For example, some are scared of the enormous fees they may have to pay. Furthermore, many victims just think that they don’t need personal injury attorneys.
Notably, though, hiring a Middletown personal injury lawyer may well be the best thing that you do for your case. Firstly, the initial consultation you have with our attorneys will be free.
Whatever you say to us will also be protected by the attorney-client privilege. We discuss more on attorney-client privilege and its benefits in this article.
What Is Attorney-Client Privilege?
Attorney-client privilege is a legal principle protecting communication between individuals and their lawyers. Thanks to this principle, an attorney cannot reveal information they received from their clients. Therefore, the attorney-client privilege is sometimes called the doctrine of legal professional privilege. For a lawyer to disclose a client’s confidential information, the client must consent to such revelation.
It’s this trust that supports the entire structure of the attorney-client relationship. This is because lawyers cannot correctly represent their clients without accurate information. Therefore, privilege ensures that clients aren’t scared of being honest with their attorneys. They can thus discuss all necessary details of their case with their lawyers.
Essential Elements of Attorney-Client Privilege
Notably, attorney-client privilege requires four criteria. They are that the:
- Communication was between the lawyer and their client
- Such an attorney was acting in a professional capacity
- The goal of the communication was legal advice
- The client expects this communication to remain confidential
This fourth condition is crucial because clients can waive their right to confidentiality. If they don’t, an attorney revealing privileged information would be in breach of their fiduciary duty.
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Are There Exceptions to the Attorney-Client Privilege?
Yes, just like most other legal rules, there are exceptions to the attorney-client privilege. However, these are minimal exceptions. Some of them include:
The Crime-Fraud Exception
This exception allows lawyers to reveal information that a client gave to them concerning the commission of a criminal offense. Notably, this exception applies where the client was in the process of committing or intended to commit the crime.
Furthermore, it applies where the client plans to cover up the commission of the crime. The crime-fraud exception may even cover the commission of civil wrongs. In this case, your attorney has a legal obligation to inform the police of your activities.
Keep in mind that the privilege doesn’t protect communications made in the presence of third parties. It also wouldn’t apply if you provided this information to any third parties. This will be the case, except the relevant third party is your agent.
Does Attorney-Client Privilege Benefit Middletown Personal Injury Victims?
Yes, legal professional privilege can benefit your injury claim. Firstly, this is because attorneys advise that you call them immediately after an accident. At this point, you’re yet unsure whether you have a strong case. You may not even know whether you’re the fault party. So, anything you say at this stage may be incriminating.
Suppose the other party or their insurer had access to this information. Then, they can use it against you in court or during settlement negotiations. Fortunately, attorney-client privilege ensures that your lawyer cannot reveal those details. It doesn’t even matter whether you don’t end up using their services.
The attorney-client privilege continues after the end of the legal relationship. In addition, this confidentiality still applies after the death of the plaintiff. This way, a wrongful death or survival action would still benefit. Consequently, you shouldn’t be scared of being open with your injury lawyer.
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What does the Attorney-Client Privilege Cover?
Finally, it’s crucial to note when legal privilege kicks in. It’s also important to know what this privilege covers. So, attorney-client privilege starts from the initial communication with a lawyer to retain their services. In addition, such communication could be oral or written.
Even non-verbal communications such as nods can fall under privilege. Therefore, the privilege applies to:
- Texts
- Emails
- Voice messages
- Phone calls, and
- Social media communications.
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Middletown Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help You!
Have you been in a Middletown personal injury accident? Then, you may be eligible for compensation. First, however, you need the best Middletown personal injury attorneys. You need Injured CT. However, we need all the information you have to get you the maximum compensation.
We also have years of experience winning personal injury cases. In all these years, we have not once breached the attorney-client privilege. So, it’ll be best to call us today for a FREE consultation.
Call or text (855)-285-3425 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form