Meeting with a personal injury lawyer can be overwhelming. It’s not just the emotional logistics you may be dealing with, but the financial impact of your situation and the physical aspects you’re coping with. In order to make your first meeting successful, it can help to be prepared. As a personal injury lawyer can explain, spending some time gathering documents and evidence of your injuries and recovery can save you time later. Your lawyer will want to know how strong of a case you have.
Documents to Bring to Your Meeting
In order to prove your injuries and demonstrate your financial losses, your lawyer will want documentation of everything you have. Here’s a list to start with:
- Police report and insurance information – any documents that demonstrate an accident occurred support your case. If the insurance company sent you any letters about your claim, your attorney will want to see those too.
- Medical records – your medical reports will be important documentation to support your claim. While you may eventually need to show a complete medical history, at this first meeting, you only need to bring any records that are relevant to your current injuries and treatment.
- Receipts and work pay stubs – your lawyer is interested in how this accident impacted you financially. Bring along any receipts for money you’ve paid out. You may also need to show how your accident impacted your work. If you can show that you are making less or missing pay from the accident, it can help your case.
- Witness information -witness statements confirm your injuries and help prove liability.
- Photos – bring photos of the accident and your injuries to your meeting. If they’re timestamped, even better.
Write Out a Personal Timeline and Account
Even if the accident is etched into your mind, writing out what happened with a timeline of events can help you have a reference when you talk to the lawyer. It makes sure you don’t forget to bring up anything important. Your lawyer may ask you questions out of sequence, so your timeline can make sure you are thorough. Include information about your pain levels, doctor’s appointments and return to work.
Discuss Your Case with a Personal Injury Lawyer
Don’t panic if you don’t have all this information at hand. You can still schedule a meeting with a personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation. The lawyer may still want to review your documentation before committing to representing you, though. Make an appointment with a lawyer.