Most personal injury attorneys conduct free case evaluations when meeting potential clients for the first time. These consultations are designed as a way for the personal injury lawyer to learn more about the accident and what happened, determine what legal options an individual has after the accident, and explain the legal journey ahead.
However, to get the most from this free case evaluation, it is important that you understand what these meetings involve and the documents you should bring with you. That is why in the guide below, we will go over everything you need to know about these case evaluations and what information you should bring with you to this meeting.
What Does an Attorney Want To Get From a Case Consultation?
When attorneys meet with a potential client for the first time, they are trying to learn numerous things about the individual and the accident, including:
- When and where did the accident happen?
- How did the accident occur?
- Who was involved in the accident?
- Who do you believe was responsible for the accident?
- Were the police notified of the accident?
- Was the insurer notified of the accident?
- Did you receive medical treatment for the accident?
- What did the doctor say regarding your prognosis?
- When did you obtain medical attention for the accident?
- What losses did you suffer because of the accident and your injuries?
- Are you able to work after the accident? If not, where were you employed, and for how long? What do you do there?
- What is the extent of your pain and suffering?
- Have you been in any other accidents?
These lawyers may also ask rather personal questions to get as much detail regarding the accident to better understand your options. They can then use this information to figure out whether you have a viable claim and the legal options you can pursue.
The Documents and Things To Bring With You To Your Free Case Consultation
If you want to help make sure that your free case consultation meeting is as productive as possible, consider bringing with you the following items:
A Description of What Happened
After the accident, if you wrote down information regarding what happened and the circumstances surrounding the incident, such as details about those involved and even the weather at the time of the accident, bring in this written account with you.
Your lawyer can review this statement and use it to help them paint a better picture of the accident and what happened. These legal professionals may also follow up on what you believe caused the accident. For instance, if you indicated the crash was due to another person driving under the influence, the lawyers can perform their own investigation to determine if this was true or not.
Medical Records
If you suffered injuries in the accident, your medical records will be important to your claim’s outcome. That is why you want to bring these documents with you when you meet with an attorney.
These documents generally include:
- Hospital intake forms
- Medical reports
- Prescription documentation
- Diagnostic images
- Health insurance statements
- Treatment forms by your primary doctor
- Any chiropractic care or physical therapy evaluations
- Any other specialized treatment you received
These records can provide evidence of the injuries you sustained and the extent of these injuries. They can also indicate how expensive your treatments were and how much you will continue to have to pay for them going forward. Without these documents, it will be more challenging for your attorney to help you fight for the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
The Police Report
Following an accident, such as a car crash, it is essential to call the police. Not only is this critical in ensuring you get the help you need, but it also means that the police can prepare a police report regarding the accident.
Your attorney can then use this report to help strengthen your case, as it will usually describe the accident, what the police believe happened, and who they believe was responsible for the incident. The officers may also include a note about who they spoke to after the accident and witness accounts regarding what other people saw.
Witness Details
If you spoke with anyone after the accident, provide your attorney with their contact details. The lawyer can contact these witnesses and ask them if they would be willing to provide an account of what they saw. This testimony can validate what happened and who was responsible for the harm you endured. Lawyers may also want to talk to these individuals to clear up some things about the incident.
Photographs and Videos
If you or someone else were able to obtain photos or videos of the accident scene, bring those with you as well. However, do not worry if you could not get this evidence.
When you retain an experienced personal injury attorney, they can promptly begin investigating your accident and gathering evidence to help your case, such as photos or videos of the:
- Accident scene
- Details about what was happening at the time of the accident, such as traffic conditions or the weather
- Any hazardous conditions that contributed to the accident
- Your visible injuries
- Any motor vehicles involved
- Any other factors that contributed to the accident
The more evidence your lawyer has, the better your chance of obtaining the positive outcome you both want and need. That is why make sure you bring with you any document you have during your initial consultation.
Insurance Information
When meeting with your attorney, make sure you bring all the insurance information you have, including your own insurance details and any insurance details you obtained from the other party involved. In addition, bring your health insurance information with you as well. Your attorney can use this information to determine the insurance coverage available.
If possible, also put together a list of names, contact details, and claim numbers for any insurance claim that has been started and give this information to the attorney. This includes anything mailed to you by anyone related to the case. However, before you provide any statements to the insurance company, consider waiting until you have consulted with an attorney.
These lawyers can provide you with a better understanding of the things you should discuss with the insurer and go over the deceitful tactics the company may try on you to get you to admit fault for the accident so they do not have to pay you the money you are owed.
Pay Stubs and Other Income Information
If you are not able to work because of your accident, make sure you bring with you some paystubs. The attorney can use these documents to calculate your total lost earnings based on your salary. If you have incurred any other expenses resulting from the accident, make sure you also bring copies of the receipts and bills to the meeting.
This includes receipts related to:
- Replacement services
- Assistive medical devices
- Home care services, and
- Alternative transportation that you’ve had to use since the accident
You may also want to bring copies of your recent tax returns to establish how much money you will likely lose if you cannot work. However, if you have any other relevant documents related to your pre-accident earnings and post-accident wages, make sure you bring all these documents to establish the extent of your losses.
Correspondence With the Opposing Party
If you have any correspondence with the other parties involved, their attorney, or the insurance company, make sure you bring this with you. This may include voicemails, text messages, emails, and letters. In addition, if you took notes during any of your phone calls, make sure you bring those with you as well.
Furthermore, if you exchanged any information with the involved parties at the scene of the accident, make sure you bring the information you collected from. This may include their names, their addresses, phone numbers, and driver’s license numbers. The attorney can use these details to find out more about the wrongful party and use it to help build your case.
However, one thing to keep in mind as you are exchanging these details is not to admit fault or apologize for the accident. You also do not want to say anything that can be used against you to hurt your case.
The Questions to Ask at Your First Meeting
While the initial consultation is a chance for your lawyer to learn more about your case and what happened, it is also an opportunity for you to learn more and know about the attorney by asking questions.
As a result, when you meet with these lawyers for the first time, consider going over the following questions with them:
- What types of law do you practice? Or do you just focus on personal injury?
- How long have you been practicing personal injury?
- What are examples of successful cases you have handled?
- Are there clients you can speak with about your services?
- What legal options do you think I have?
- What is the strategy for my case?
- Do you think my case will succeed?
Although the main purpose of the free consultation is for the lawyer to determine if you have a viable case and if it is a case they can handle, it is also an opportunity for you to see if the lawyer is the right fit for you and your needs.
What the Lawyer May Have You Do During Your Consultation
When you meet with the attorney for the first time, they may have you sign authorizations so that they can get started requesting critical records right away, including:
- Insurance authorization
- Wage loss authorization
- HIPAA-compliant authorization in order for the lawyer to obtain medical records
They may also request copies of your insurance cards, including Medicaid or Medicare.
Talk to the attorney about how the accident affected you and your loved ones and your ability to participate in everyday tasks.
Sign the Proper Paperwork and Understand the Legal Fees
If you are ready to sign with the attorney, they will likely have you fill out paperwork allowing them to accurately represent you. However, one thing to discuss with the attorney before you sign these forms is their legal fees.
Most personal injury lawyers work under a contingency fee basis, meaning that they do not get paid unless you win your case or obtain a settlement. If you do not win your case, you will not have to pay these lawyers anything for the work done.
However, the amount the lawyer will obtain will typically depend on the case. For example, most personal injury attorneys take anywhere between 20 and 40 percent. Yet, the exact amount needs to be discussed before you hire an attorney, so you understand the contingency fee arrangement and what it will mean for you and your case.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney for Your Free Case Evaluation
If you suffered harm and losses in an accident due to another person’s wrongful actions, you may have a viable legal claim you can pursue. Fortunately, working with a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyer can help you figure out your legal options and assist you in going after the justice and damages you deserve.
Better yet, your lawyer will provide a free initial consultation, and will not obligate you to take any action.
That is why if you want to discuss your accident with a legal professional, contact our personal injury law firm in Denver today for your free case evaluation and find out how a lawyer can help you fight for the financial recovery you need.
