What Is A Consultation With A Personal Injury Attorney?
Michael Babboni
Personal Injury
When you’ve been injured in an accident, one of the biggest decisions you will face is whether or not to hire a personal injury attorney. No matter the circumstances of your accident, it is always recommended that you speak to a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney can help protect your rights and ensure that you get fair compensation for your damages. Your first meeting with an attorney will help you determine if you need an attorney, as well as which attorney to hire to represent you.When You Should Schedule A Consultation With An Attorney
The best time to schedule a consultation with an attorney is immediately after an accident. However, most people don’t feel comfortable speaking with an attorney right away. A lot of us feel like our accident isn’t bad enough to need legal representation or think that attorneys will only complicate the process. If you are on the fence, here are some questions to ask yourself:
● Are my injuries so severe that they are impacting my life?
● Will it be a long time before I recover from my injuries?
● Does the offer from the insurance company seem low?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then you definitely need to schedule a consultation with an attorney.
What Is The Purpose Of A Consultation With An Attorney?
A consultation with an attorney is basically an introduction to your circumstances and a review of how the attorney may help you. The purpose of a consultation is two-fold. First, it is to determine if you need the retain the services of an attorney. Secondly, it is an interview with an attorney to see if they are the best person to handle your case.
What You Should Bring To The Consultation With An Attorney?
When you first meet with an attorney, it really is a larger overview of the case. You won’t get into too many details right away. However, it is a good idea to come prepared. There are some things that we recommend you always bring to a consultation with an attorney including:
● Personal identification
● The police report concerning the accident if you have one
● Insurance policy information
● Any correspondence you’ve had with the insurance company or notes from any phone calls
● Notes about what happened during the accident
● A list of medical treatments, diagnoses, and medications that you have had since the accident
● A list of your medical providers and their contact information
● A list of expenses related to the accident since as lost wages and the costs to get to and from your medical appointments
● Any photos or videos from the accident scene
● Names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident
If you don’t have all of these things, don’t worry. One of the things a personal injury attorney does is help you collect and organize all your documentation. You also should have a list of prepared questions.
What Will Happen At The Consultation
The consultation is just the first meeting, so it will really be a review. Usually what happens is:
• You make introductions to each other and learn more about each other’s backgrounds.
• The lawyer will evaluate the accident and ask questions about what you believed happened. The attorney will take notes and ask questions.
• The attorney will determine if you have a claim or if they are the best person to represent you in the case. Sometimes they may introduce you to a different attorney at their firm with more specialized knowledge.
• The attorney will then review the steps necessary to recover damages
• Sometimes, the attorney will help you calculate a fair figure. However, this depends on how much evidence you have pertaining to your case.
How To Schedule A Consultation
If you believe you need to speak to an attorney, scheduling a consultation is easy. You simply call the attorney you want to work with and make an appointment. However, at Justice Pays, we make this process even easier. We offer a free case review right over the phone. That way you only have to come in if we are the best fit for your case. Contact us today to take advantage of this free legal service.