You’ve never been hurt in an accident before, but here you are. You’ve got injuries that don’t even seem like they have started to heal yet. Maybe you have property damage, for instance, if you were hurt in a car accident. Before you go and meet with your personal injury attorney for the first time, you should know that there are some things that you can bring with you to expedite the process and save time.
Here are three critical things to bring with you to your first meeting with a personal injury attorney.
Evidence from the Scene of the Accident
When you are in an accident, you need to gather evidence that shows that the other party was responsible for your injuries. The sooner you gather this evidence following the accident, the better off your case will be. Examples of the types of evidence that will be helpful include:
- Photos of the scene from many different angles, showing any hazards that may have caused the accident to occur.
- A copy of the police report or accident report. If the accident was a slip and fall, ask for a copy of any report that the property owner or business makes.
- Names, phone numbers, and addresses for any witnesses who can support your claim.
As the victim of the accident, you have a unique perspective about what happened. If you think that any other evidence will be pertinent to your case, document it with photographs or by writing it down and describing it.
Proof of Your Injuries
When you are injured in an accident, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Not only does seeing a doctor ensure that you get the care you need, but it can also help you create a paper trail of evidence that supports your claim. When you meet your personal injury attorney for the first time, bring any documentation that you think will help to paint a picture of the accident and how it affected you, including:
- Your medical records.
- Your doctor’s opinion on how long recovery will take and any possible future procedures that might be necessary.
- The contact information of any medical professionals who have treated you.
- Your medical insurance information, and auto insurance, if applicable.
The proof you have that documents your injuries will help determine how much compensation you could be entitled to, so it is absolutely critical to be thorough when gathering documentation.
Questions to Ask
When you have your initial consultation with your personal injury attorney, they will probably have a lot of questions for you to answer. But they shouldn’t be the only one with questions to ask. Before meeting your attorney, prepare a few questions to get to know them better, such as:
- How many personal injury cases have you handled and won in the past?
- How extensive is your trial experience?
- How much will this cost me?
These basic questions should help you learn more about whether the attorney you have chosen is a good fit for you.
Want to learn how Pacin Levine Attorneys at Law can help you? Let’s have a conversation about your case.
