Before you meet with your personal injury lawyer for the first time after you’ve been injured, collect any documents you have relating to your accident and injury and place them in a folder or large envelope. Here’s an injury checklist of some of the documents and other pertinent information to take with you to your lawyer, if applicable to your case.
| Information | |
| ____ | Name and address of ambulance service |
| ____ | Name and address of the emergency room where you were initially taken |
| ____ | Dates you were admitted to the emergency room and the hospital |
| ____ | Names and business address of all doctors who have examined you |
| ____ | Names and addresses of chiropractors you have consulted |
| ____ | Names of all people who were involved in the accident |
| ____ | Names and addresses of witnesses to the accident |
| ____ | Dates you missed work because of the accident |
| ____ | Name and telephone number of each insurance adjustor you have talked to |
| ____ | List of people you have talked to about the accident or your injuries |
| Documents | |
| ____ | Accident report |
| ____ | Copies of any written statements |
| ____ | Your automobile insurance policy if you were injured in a car accident along with the “declarations” page or “coverage certificate” that sets forth what kinds of coverage you have purchased and what the policy limits are |
| ____ | Your homeowner’s or renter’s policy, along with the declarations page or coverage certificate |
| ____ | Medical or disability insurance policy or coverage certificate |
| ____ | Other policies, including major medical, hospitalization, veterans insurance |
| ____ | All correspondence you have received from any insurer about the accident or your injuries |
| ____ | Medical bills |
| ____ | Receipts for things you have had to buy because of your injury |
| ____ | Receipts for things you have had to fix because of the accident |
The First Meeting: Questions to Ask a Lawyer
You want a lawyer who is right for you. While every lawyer has their own style and method of practice, there are some basic things you may want to know before hiring him/her.
In addition to having the proper documents to show your future lawyer, it’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions to take with you to your first meeting. Some questions you might ask an accident and injury lawyer would include:
- How many personal injury trials has he or she handled? Of those, how many did he or she win?
- What percentage of his or her practice is in the personal injury area of expertise that you need?
- How long has he or she been in practice?
- Would the lawyer handle the case personally or would it be passed on to some other lawyer or support staff in the firm? If other lawyers or staff may do some of the work, could you meet them?
- What problems does the lawyer foresee with your case?
- How would the lawyer go about handling your situation? What is the process?
- How long will the case take?
- How would the lawyer charge for his or her services? Fixed, hourly rate or contingency fee?
- What types of experts would the lawyer use to prove your case?
- Is there a time limit by which you must settle the case or file a lawsuit?
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