During your initial consultation, your attorney gathers the details of your case and explains how they’ll approach it—all at no charge to you in most cases. This first meeting is crucial and sets the tone for your whole case, and knowing what to expect helps you get the most out of it.
You’ll Explain Your Story
When you first meet with a personal injury lawyer, you will recount the accident that caused your injuries from beginning to end. You should provide your potential lawyer with as much information as possible about the accident, your damages, and even the seemingly minor details.
This way, your attorney understands how the accident occurred, who could be responsible, and where to begin with your personal injury lawsuit. You should also be prepared to go over your injuries’ impact on your life, your prognosis, and your economic and non-economic damages.
Your Attorney Will Ask Questions
Next, your attorney will need to ask you some questions to learn more about how to approach your case. First, you can expect your attorney to ask how your injuries have affected your life.
Be prepared to go over any out-of-pocket costs you have already covered, how your personal life has been affected, your financial status given the extent of your injuries, whether you need to take time off work, and everything in between.
Your lawyer will also discuss how the accident occurred, whether you obtained the contact and insurance information of the other party, and make sure you have a legitimate personal injury claim.
It is more common than you might think for people to attempt to pursue frivolous claims in the hopes of recovering compensation. For this reason, your personal injury lawyer must thoroughly vet you before agreeing to take on your case.
Bring Thorough Documentation
Do not go empty-handed when you head into your free consultation with a personal injury attorney. Bring evidence to help your attorney begin investigating your case.
Some examples of this evidence and documentation could include:
- Photos of your injuries
- Copies of the police report
- Copies of your insurance policies
- Documentation of your medical expenses, such as receipts from prescription medications, hospital bills, ambulance bills, and other records
- A copy of your W-2 or paystubs
- Video footage of the accident scene or the accident itself
- The contact information and insurance details of all involved parties
Although your attorney may not go over all this evidence at the initial consultation, being able to review these documents gives you a better understanding of how much your claim could be worth and whether you have grounds for legal action against the responsible party.
Don’t Forget to Ask Your Attorney Questions
Your free consultation with a personal injury lawyer is your best opportunity to ask your attorney any pressing questions you might have about the claims process. Some of the questions you may want to ask include the following:
- How much your personal injury lawyer will charge
- What responsibilities your attorney will take on
- How many years of experience your lawyer has with cases like yours
- Whether you can speak with former clients
- How long it will take for your case to be resolved
Generally, personal injury attorneys will be willing to work for you on contingency, which means you will not be expected to pay any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses. You will only pay your attorney back if they win your case.
However, you want to be sure that your personal injury lawyer is willing to work with you on contingency before you agree to have them take on your case. Otherwise, you may have to pay out-of-pocket costs or put a retainer down.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Michigan for Help Today
Making the call to schedule your free consultation is the first step in taking back control of your life after a severe injury.
You can learn more about what to expect from the claims process in your case and what legal options may be available to you when you contact our experienced Michigan personal injury lawyers at Davis Injury Lawyers, PLLC. Schedule your free case evaluation as soon as today when you fill out our online contact form or call our office at (313) 462-7979.