What to expect from your first meeting with an injury attorney

After suffering a serious injury, it’s normal to be stressed. You may be feeling pain and worrying about what comes next. As you consider your recovery, the well-being of your family, and the financial burden that lost work and medical bills will bring, you may be asking yourself whether meeting with a lawyer is the right thing to do.

Let me put your mind at ease. The first thing to know is that I do not charge a fee to review your case. The second thing is that just coming in for a consultation doesn’t mean you’ve made a decision on whether to pursue compensation or which lawyer to use. In my experience, even if you’re nervous about meeting an attorney, by the time you leave my office, you’ll feel better informed to make the right decision, which can really help put your mind at ease.

What to bring with you

Sometimes people are afraid to make the call or meet an attorney because they feel unprepared for the meeting. Leave this one to us. We’ll help make sure you have everything you need for your initial consultation. One thing you can do to help yourself is to keep an injury diary. I explain more about that here.

We’ll give you more details when you call, but here’s a general idea. You should come to a first meeting with:

• All accident related documentation, such as the police report and any violations.
• Information about the other party, including their insurance company and policy number if you have it.
• Photographs of the accident scene and of your injuries.
• Your own car insurance policy.
• We recommend that you allow us to make the first contact with the insurance company, but if you’ve already done it, bring your claim number.
• A list of healthcare providers that have treated your injuries from this accident, including the ambulance service, hospital and doctors.
• Anything else you think could be useful to your attorney.

Think about these questions

In order to better understand your situation, I will likely ask you some or all of the following question. Try to think about them in advance so you’ll be ready.

• Are you having pain from your injuries?
• Have there been any repercussions from your accident such as absence from work, difficulty in daily tasks or taking care of your family, inability to participate in recreational activities that you enjoy, or others?
• Have you given any statements to an insurance company about your accident? If so, what did you say?
• Have you talked to anyone else about your accident? If so, what did you say?

Give us a call and set your mind at ease

The only way to know if you have a case is to ask an experienced injury attorney. A free consultation can give you the information you need and the confidence to make an informed decision. I’ve been successfully helping neighbors in Putnam County for over 40 years, contact me to find out if I can help you.