When you’ve been injured following an accident, pursing the compensation you deserve can seem frightening. After setting up a consultation with a personal injury attorney, you will be confused about what will be expected of you and what the first meeting will include. To help you get through this meeting and onto the path toward legal justice, we’ve put together a guide of what will happen at your initial consultation.
How Long Will the Meeting Take?
The length of your meeting can vary depending on what your case involves. In cases that are straightforward such as automobile accidents, it will be easier to make determinations about guilt and the consultation should go quickly. If your case involves issues such as medical malpractice or injuries after using products, you should expect to spend a longer period of time speaking to the lawyer. You can help make the meeting go by quicker by being prepared and having all necessary documentation on hand.
What is a Personal Injury Attorney Consultation?
When you go in for your consultation, the attorney will want to hear all the details surrounding your accident. Usually, lawyers will give you the chance to provide them with the full story, and then they follow up your details with questions of their own. You need to realize that a lawyer will want to best represent your case – if their questions seem difficult, pointed, or personal, it is because they need a thorough understanding of the case and how they can help you. Do not lie about the details, twist the story in your favor, or omit certain information. The lawyer will work to collect all the available information about your accident or injury and will seek out important details about your medical treatment and bills, the names of any other people involved in the accident, and any witnesses who might have seen the accident take place. After the lawyer has a good grasp on your case, he or she can move forward with the legal aspect of your claim.
What Else Will the Attorney Want?
After the lawyer has heard your side of the story, he or she will still want additional information. You can expect the following: You may be asked to sign release forms so that the attorney can review information from your medical care providers and receive your health records. The lawyer will also ask for information about your insurance and details about any conversations you’ve had with adjusters; if you have talked to an adjuster, the attorney will want a recap of everything that was said.
- You will be asked about any additional people who have talked to you about the accident.
- You will need to repeat the details about the conversation and who spoke with you.
The attorney will want information about your injuries such as what your doctor is saying, what kind of treatment plans are in place, and the amount of pain you are experiencing. If you are still suffering from injuries, the lawyer may want you to go back to the doctor to discuss your lingering condition. Continued medical care will be documented proof of your injuries.
What Happens Next
After gathering all the details about your case, the lawyer will get to decide if they want to represent you. The lawyer can choose to say “yes”, “no”, or ask for some time to consider your case. While a consideration can feel like a “no”, don’t get discouraged – it is a common practice among those in the law field and actually means that the attorney is serious about their work. If the lawyer declines your case due to lack of evidence, you should get a second opinion before giving up entirely. In some situations, the attorney may refer you to another lawyer – this happens if the attorney is simply too busy to take on your case or feels that someone else is better suited to represent you. If the attorney decides to represent you, you may be asked to sign forms that bind you to the lawyer. Be sure to read all the documentation thoroughly before signing it and ask about any questions you may have. After the right forms are signed, the attorney will explain what steps to take next and will warn you not to talk about the details to anyone else.
Free Consultations
Personal injury lawsuits can be challenging but, with the right attorney, you can win the money you deserve. You can find out how an attorney will help you by attending a free legal consultation.
