By saying a "contract" with the lawyer and as it seems to be a personal injury case I would assume that it is a contingency contract. They only get paid if they collect. As the lawyers involved in the firm changed, etc. together with what seems to be some gross incompetence, it doesn't really matter as there is only the original contingency agreement and the law firm gets 40 percent usually. They can argue among themselves how it is split up, though it sounds like the previous lawyers did not do a thing. If they did, it should be in the file. But you shouldn't have to worry about it and there isn't a lot to be done. If you win, the lawyer gets the check, puts it into his escrow account and issues you a check for your share.

Even if the agreement is missing, there isn't much you can do as the fees in a contingency are standardized in each state and he would still collect if you sued. And get serious, like you can afford to sue a lawyer and/or find another lawyer to do it.

I just hope a civil action was previously filed before the statute of limitations runs out.