what to say when meeting your injury attorney

What should I bring to my meeting with my attorney?

Feb 28, 2017 · Clarify with your lawyer how often you can expect to be brought up to date on the course of your claim. Don't be content to sit at home - make sure your lawyer calls in once a week, once every couple of days, or at whatever interval satisfies you to let you know how the entire process is going.

What questions should I ask a personal injury lawyer?

Important things to bring to your first meeting with a personal injury lawyer. Gather these various documents and information before your first meeting with a personal injury attorney: 1. All medical information. Documents explaining diagnoses and …

How should I approach my first meeting with my lawyer?

Mar 12, 2020 · You want to feel comfortable with your personal injury lawyer. You’ll need to communicate sensitive information with them and know you can trust them. If you feel good about your first meeting with them and seem to develop a good rapport, that’s a good sign. Know That There Will Be Paperwork

What should I do if my lawyer is not clearly spelled out?

5 Things to Tell Your Personal Injury Lawyer. 1) Tell your attorney about any previous accidents injuries you've suffered. An insurance adjuster attempting to deny the claim might say that your ... 2) Tell him about your criminal history. Usually any …

What to do if you have been injured in an accident?

If you’ve been injured in an accident – whether it involved a car, defective product, or was a work-related incident – meeting with a personal injury lawyer right away will help take the stress of your case off your hands so you can work towards physical and emotional healing.

What is the job of a personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer is there to support you and do all of the hard, legal work so that you can focus on your recovery. Your primary job following an accident is to take care of yourself and your family.

Know what to say to attorneys when you need to hire one after an accident

Meeting with an attorney for the first time is intimidating. What's a good strategy? How long is a free consultation, and how much does it cost to talk with a lawyer? These are all questions that someone who's been in an accident would have, and they're ones we answer here...

Meeting with a lawyer for the first time

Here are some tips for when you sit down with a lawyer. Remember, initial personal injury consultations are normally free of charge and could take anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the complexities of your case.

What to say when calling an attorney

When you first call an attorney's office, you will likely speak to their assistant. It will not usually be the attorney him or herself who answers the phone.

What about phone consultations with a lawyer?

You may not always be meeting the lawyer in person. In some situations, you'll be having your consultation over the phone.

Listen to your lawyer

This is just as important as talking to your lawyer, because this is why you're seeking help in the first place.

1. Your Honest Story

Perhaps the most important thing to bring to your meeting with your personal injury lawyer is an honest story.

2. All Medical Bills, Records, and Other Documents You Have

Any evidence that you have about your accident, the person against whom you wish to file suit, and your injuries should be brought to your initial consultation.

3. List of Questions

Finally, we recommend that you bring a list of questions that you have for the personal injury attorney with whom you’re meeting. For example, you may have questions about:

Schedule a Free Consultation Now

If you have suffered an injury and you think someone else was to blame, there is no reason to not meet with a skilled personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.

What to bring to a lawyer meeting?

What Should I Bring? 1 A pen and pad of paper or the electronic equivalent! In the course of your conversation with your attorney, you will surely want to write down notes on any issues or questions that arise. 2 A list of questions. Clients often have a million questions and concerns before a meeting, one or more of which they then forget to ask when sitting face to face with their attorney. Write these questions down ahead of time, to make sure you get every query answered while you're sitting there. 3 A check for the initial consultation fee, if your attorney charges one. This should be discussed ahead of the meeting. Nothing gets a lawyer-client relationship off on the wrong foot faster than forgetting to make your first payment. Presenting that fee immediately shows that you're taking the relationship seriously. 4 Any documents relevant to your case. If, for example, you are negotiating a lease and want the lawyer to review it, you should obviously bring a copy of the draft lease. If possible, make multiple copies of each document you give to your lawyer, so that you can take a set back home. (Or you can ask the lawyer's office to make the copies, but you'll likely be charged at premium rates for those.)

What questions should I ask my attorney?

Questions for Your Attorney 1 How long have you practiced in this area of law? 2 How many cases have you handled that are like mine? 3 What was the outcome in those cases? 4 How long does it typically take to resolve cases like mine? 5 What sort of budget should I anticipate for this sort of case, from beginning to end? 6 Do you require a retainer? If so, how much? 7 What additional information, documents, or data do you need from me in order to begin work?

What happens if you don't hire a lawyer?

Be honest. Remember that, even if you do not end up hiring the lawyer, everything you tell him or her during your meeting is generally subject to the attorney-client privilege. (The biggest exception to this, not surprisingly, is if you tell your lawyer that you are going to commit a crime, which information the lawyer may be duty-bound ...

What is retainer agreement?

You may be presented with a contract called a retainer agreement or a legal services agreement. This typically spells out the scope of the lawyer's representation of you, as well as the fees that you will pay. The document is ordinarily a few pages long. The lawyer should explain it to you.

Can you know the value of a personal injury settlement?

Only you, as an injured person, can know the true value of a case. But when placing a settlement value on a personal injury claim, it is important to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is recovery and that recovery requires compromise.

What is personal injury law?

In personal injury law, "damages" (your injuries and losses) form the basis of calculating the amount of money appropriate to compensate you. You cannot appropriately value a personal injury case unless you understand what damages are available in your case.

Do insurance companies look for discounts?

Insurance companies are always looking for discounts for early resolution of cases, and will magnify any perceived weaknesses in your case in an attempt to obtain a settlement agreement for as little money as possible.

What is the negotiation process?

The negotiation process can be a matter of a few phone calls between attorneys, or can involve mediators, facilitators and even judges. Courts prefer that cases settle prior to trial, and will often bring any and all resources at their disposal to bear to ensure that a case settles.

What is non-economic damage?

Non-economic damages are the proverbial pain and suffering damages, and are designed to compensate you for any emotional or psychological toll your injuries have taken on your life. While economic damages may be subject to some negotiation, placing a value on them is relatively easy. No so with pain and suffering.