Yes - the worst-case version is that switching lawyers after a crash on Pass Road near Biloxi High can slow your case, create a fight over fees, and force your new lawyer to rebuild momentum.

But no, you are not stuck with the first lawyer you hired.

In Mississippi, a client can usually change lawyers at any time in a personal injury case. If no lawsuit has been filed yet, the switch is often just paperwork: a new fee agreement, a notice to the insurance company, and a request for your file.

It gets messier if a suit is already on file in Harrison County Circuit Court or another court. Then the old lawyer may need to withdraw and the new lawyer may file a substitution of counsel. That can cause delay if hearings, medical exams, or settlement talks are already lined up.

The biggest practical issue is usually fees, not permission. Your old lawyer may claim a lien for work already done, and the fee may later be divided between the old and new lawyers. That normally comes out of the attorney fee portion, not as an extra bill stacked on top of you.

Things usually go better when you switch early, before major depositions, expert deadlines, or trial prep. It also helps if your file is organized and your medical treatment is still ongoing.

A few Mississippi-specific points matter:

• Mississippi is an at-fault state, so your claim is generally against the driver who caused the crash and their insurer.
• The minimum liability limits are 25/50/25.
• The general deadline to file most injury lawsuits is 3 years from the crash date.

If your current lawyer is missing calls, pushing you to accept a low offer, or brushing off your own doctor in favor of the insurance doctor, switching can improve things - provided it happens before the clock and the paper trail get ugly.