Be Prepared: What to Expect at Your First Meeting With a Personal Injury Attorney 

Being involved in a car accident is scary enough, but when it’s the fault of another driver you may be just plain annoyed and ready to receive compensation from the other driver. 

Most American feel the same. The most frequently filed personal injury cases in the U.S. are car accident cases. 

Whether your injury was from a car accident or some other accident where negligence was involved, you’ll want to meet with a personal injury attorney to discuss whether or not you have a case. 

Meeting with a personal injury attorney for the first time can be intimidating. What questions should you ask? Should you bring your accident reports and insurance information? 

Expect a Brief Meeting

The initial consultation will take around an hour. The lawyers are experienced and know just what questions to ask you to learn more about the case. They’ll be able to evaluate your case in that amount of time. 

What Should You Bring With You? 

Your document checklist should include any proof that you have to back up your claim. You’ll need to bring things like a list of witnesses, communication with insurance companies, pictures from the accident scene, pictures of your injuries, medical records and bills, the police report if applicable, work records regarding lost work and wages, and pay stubs, etc. 

Evaluation and Explanation

After hearing your story and seeing your documentation, the lawyer will evaluate your case and explain what goes into his or her decision about taking or declining to take your case. 

Some lawyers will tell you right there during the consultation. Some will take a little time before making a decision. You don’t have to hire them either way until you’ve consulted other attorneys if that’s what you plan to do. 

Even if the attorney decides not to take your case, it doesn’t mean you should give up. Consult with at least one or two others. 

Fees

You can expect to learn about how the billing process works if the lawyer decides to take your case. Sometimes they charge an hourly rate plus fees for investigations, making copies, and ordering records. 

Some only get paid if they win the case. They’ll take a portion of any amount you recover in the lawsuit. 

We’ve outlined what to expect, but what questions should you ask of the person who may potentially represent you in a personal injury case? Be sure to click for a great resource and learn more about a no-cost consultation. 

Meeting with a Personal Injury Attorney 

Now that you know what to expect when meeting a personal injury attorney, you’ll know how to prepare in advance. This meeting shouldn’t put you on edge. A personal injury lawyer is going to be on your side. Being prepared helps them get you what you deserve. But, have no fear, they’ll walk you through the steps you need to take to get the outcome you desire.

Did you gain some helpful knowledge here? Check out the other law articles on our blog. We also cover more topics like tech, travel, sports, health, and more.