Good Fences And Not So Good Neighbors: Property Law 101

Free Personal Injury Consultations: How To Prepare For Yours And What To Expect

30 March 2016 by Hunter Moore

As a general rule, personal injury lawyers will offer something that is known as a free consultation. This is an initial meeting that is free of charge to clients. It is the time that allows the potential client and the lawyer to meet one another and for the lawyer to learn the details about the case before deciding whether or not to take on the case. At the same time, it allows you to find out whether the attorney is a good fit for you and to learn more about what legal options are available to you in your particular situation. However, if you have never needed to partake in a free consultation, how does this type of meeting work? What can you expect?

Scheduling and Preparing for an Initial Meeting with a Personal Injury Attorney

Usually, you will see on an attorney's website that they offer free consultations for victims who have been injured. You can call the law firm office to schedule the consultation or fill out an online form. As far as preparing for the consultation, there are some things that you will need to do to ensure that you get the most out of the meeting. First, you want to create a list of any questions or concerns that you may have, such as fees, experience, etc. No answer is dumb at this point, so ask it if you are certain about something.

In addition, you will want to bring some items that pertain to your case with you. These things include medical records, police reports, pay stubs (if you've lost time off of work due to the injury), receipts for expenses that have been incurred as a result of the injury, insurance information and any legal correspondence that has been received from insurance companies or possible parties that may be named in the potential lawsuit.

What You Can Expect at Your Free Personal Injury Consultation

Don't expect to walk into the lawyer's office, introduce yourself, talk for a few minutes and be done. The consultation will often last 30 to 60 minutes as there is a lot to discuss – possibly longer, depending on your particular case and how much detail you and your lawyer are willing to go into at the time. So, it is important that you allow yourself plenty of time for this meeting. The attorney (such as one from Whiting, Hagg, Hagg, Dorsey & Hagg) is going to ask you questions, so be prepared. These questions will pertain to your injury, the accident that caused the injury, any medical treatment that you've received and other facts surrounding the potential case.

At the end of the consultation, the attorney will decide whether to take your case or whether he or she needs to refer you to another lawyer. If the attorney does decide to accept your case, you do have the right to seek a second opinion before hiring the lawyer. Ultimately, meeting with more than one lawyer will allow you to gain more insight into your legal options and the merits of your potential legal case.

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