If you’ve recently been hurt in an accident, you need to get the help of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A lot of people aren’t sure what to do to prepare, or what to bring for their first meeting with their lawyer. It’s really quite simple, but you will only get the most out of it if you are fully prepared. Here is a list of items to bring and preparations to make when you first meet your Palm Beach personal injury attorney.
Make Sure You Have These Documents
Before you walk into the lawyer’s office, arm yourself with all the documents pertaining to the case. The lawyers need all the information they can get in order to pursue your case. This is what you’ll need:
- A Copy of the Police or Accident Report:
Your lawyer will ask for your account of the accident, but the benefit of a police report is that it offers an objective, third party description.
- Photographs:
All photographs you may have of the accident and your injuries should be brought to the lawyer. Your injuries may have healed so the lawyer will not be able to get an idea of their full extent without viewing photographs.
- Medical Records:
All relevant medical records must be presented to the lawyer in order to build a case. These include hospitalization records, records from doctors and other practitioners, copies of bills as well as all receipts in respect of medical expenses.
- Wage Loss Information:
If the accident has caused you to lose your job or miss work for a period, your lawyer needs to get an idea of how much income you have lost. So, bring pay stubs, documentation showing how many days you’ve missed, documentation showing benefits you might have claimed because of the accident, and tax returns.
Ask the Right Questions
You are going to be working closely with your lawyer and you are trusting them to help you secure vital compensation. So, you need to know who they are, whether you can work with them, and if they have what it takes to do the job. Here are some questions you should ask to get started:
- How long have you practiced in personal injury law?
- Have you handled cases similar to mine?
- What kind of outcomes have you generally seen in cases like mine?
- Can you explain your fee structure?
- How long will my case take?
- What other information do you need from me?
- What are the important things I need to know before starting with the case?
If you’re ready to consult your Palm Beach personal injury attorney, contact Sokoloff & Weinstein, P.A., a firm of experienced personal injury lawyers in Royal Palm Beach and Vero Beach.