After receiving physical, mental, or emotional injury from an incident, the first thing you want is relief. First, you should seek medical attention to alleviate any pain and ensure you are in a stable condition. Your next step may be to enlist legal advice with the help of a personal injury attorney.
However, if this is a new situation for you, you may not know how to proceed. You may be feeling overwhelmed, upset, or even very driven. To prepare for your initial consultation with your personal injury lawyer, gather and prepare the following for the appointment:
1. Your own account
Before you do anything, write as much about the incident as you can. You will have to detail the incident during the legal consultation, so it will help you to have your statement prepared. You can make notes, a journal entry, a timeline, or any option that suits you-whatever helps you retain the details of the event. Be as detailed as possible without filling in any gaps with assumptions. Don’t withhold any information even if it seems to implicate your own actions.
You may include additional information following the incident that is relevant to the case. For instance, the amount of work hours and pay you have missed due to personal injury, if any. The more information your attorney has, the more he or she can accurately assess the viability of the case. Even if you think you could never forget what happened, time does have the power to erode memories.
2. Any questions for your attorney
If you are new to the process, you likely have some questions about what to expect. Make a list of your questions or concerns, and bring them to your consultation. Record your questions about the case itself, including the projected length of the process or the likelihood of success. You might bring any questions you have regarding your attorney specifically, such as his or her fees and experience.
3. Police reports
If there is a police report about the accident, bring a copy. If you or someone else involved filed an accident report, bring that as well.
4. Medical records
Make copies of any bills relating to the incident, including ambulance services, hospital care, doctor visits, any therapy, and/or prescriptions. In addition, bring any treatment records you have.
5. Insurance information
Bring a copy of your insurance policy to your personal injury attorney consultation, as well as any claims or correspondence between you and your insurer.
6. Evidence
If you have any photographic evidence of the offending liability or anything relating to the incident, provide your attorney with a copy. If there were witnesses, bring their contact information and/or any witness reports.
7. Correspondence
Lastly, if you have corresponded with the other party regarding the incident, bring copies of the conversations. Include both parties’ full responses.
If you do not have each of these items prepared to bring to your personal injury attorney consultation, don’t worry. Your lawyer can help you obtain the necessary documents as needed, and he or she will conduct any further legal research. However, preparing these items beforehand will make your consultation as effective and efficient as possible.
With these items in hand, your personal injury attorney can accurately assess your case and move the restitution process forward more quickly.
Collecting these seven essential items to your personal injury case will give a sense of control after your injury. And the more prepared you feel for your consultation, the less stressful the appointment will be. You and your personal injury attorney can then focus on getting you the legal assistance you need.
