If you’re left wondering where to turn after an accident, consider hiring an injury attorney to take on your case. An experienced lawyer will handle the insurance and legal process to ensure you have the strongest case possible. They will also negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies to get you the top-dollar settlement you’re entitled to.
Most accident injury lawyers will first meet with you for a free consultation to learn more about the facts of your accident. Learn what you should expect from this meeting as well as what questions you should ask to find the best attorney possible.
Discussing the Details of Your Accident
Initial consultations are all about determining the facts of the accident so the lawyer will spend the majority of the meeting asking you questions about your accident, injuries, costs incurred, and any lost wages due to missed work. They will try to establish a timeline of the accident to understand exactly what caused the accident and who is liable for the resulting damages.
Establishing the facts of the case allows the attorney to understand the viability of your case.
Reviewing Records and Documents
Supporting evidence plays a major part in determining the strength of your claim. After hearing your version of events, the injury lawyer you find out with the search of “injury lawyer near me” will review your records and documents to gain more unbiased insight into the situation. Evidence to bring with you:
- Medical records showing the extent of your injuries and care required
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Images of the accident
- Photos of the scene
- Pay stubs
- Bills, invoices, and estimates
These documents will also help you understand exactly how much compensation you can expect.
Talking About Costs and Fee Structure
Once your lawyer understands your case’s facts and has reviewed all your supporting evidence, they will then discuss their billing and fee structure. Every law firm bills slightly differently but most personal injury attorneys work on what’s known as contingency: they will take a chunk of whatever settlement you receive (usually around 30%) but you don’t have to pay the legal fees if you don’t win. Some firms will require you to pay some costs like court costs and expert witness fees while some will not.
Make sure you completely understand what you will be paying and what it will cover by the end of your conversation.
Laying Out Your Options and Legal Strategies
Now that your lawyer understands your case and you are on board with their fees, they will lay out their thoughts on possible strategies to pursue. They will go over relevant laws and regulations and what they mean for your case. You should discuss negotiating tactics to employ with the insurance company as well as the pros and cons of taking the case to court.
The most important part of this discussion is that you understand your possible paths forward as well as the risks, rewards, and potential outcomes of each.
What to Ask an Injury Lawyer
The initial meeting is your time to ask the lawyer questions. You want to get to know them as a lawyer and gauge their experience and qualifications. Questions to ask include:
- How many cases like mine have you pursued? What outcomes did they have?
- How many accident injuries have you handed overall?
- Will you or another member of your firm work on my case?
- How long do you anticipate this process taking?
- What are the major steps in this process I should anticipate?
The earlier you engage an accident injury lawyer the better. Your lawyer will use their experience in the legal system and as a negotiator to ensure you receive compensation for your injuries and care. Showing up to your consultation meeting prepared with all relevant records and documents and a list of questions will allow you to find the best lawyer for your case.
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