How To Prepare For Your First Meeting With A Personal Injury Attorney
Metro Detroit Personal Injury Attorney
The initial meeting with a new Michigan personal injury accident client is one of the most important parts of any personal injury case. The attorney is charged with eliciting all the necessary facts to determine the prospective client's legal options, often regarding very personal issues during what may be the most difficult period, both physically and emotionally, of there life. It is here where the level of trust between client and attorney necessary for a successful case is forged.
At Metro Detroit Injury Lawyers, we place the highest level of importance on these initial meetings with potential personal injury clients. This means taking the time to listen to the client, answer any and all questions the client has, and determine the next course of action.
Like anything, the more prepared both the prospective client and attorney are for the meeting, the more effective and beneficial it will be for the case. In a personal injury case, the plaintiff and their attorney are effectively recreating an event that happened in the past, and must do so in a persuasive, truthful and cohesive manner. This begins the moment the prospective client walks into the attorney's office. What can the client do to help their case start off on the right track? Here are some helpful tips to make sure the initial meeting with your personal injury lawyer is a success:
- Spend time thinking about the facts of your case.This means thinking about the intricate details of your case, however unpleasant that may be. What time of day did the accident occur? What were you doing in the moments just before the accident occurred? What did you see? Who was with you? What happened immediately after? Did you speak with anyone about the accident? Think about the 5 W's - Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. While the attorney will of course ask you questions about the accident, the more you have thought about the case beforehand, the easier it will be to answer them. This is easier if you documented the details of the accident at the scene or shortly thereafter. Even if you didn't though, spending time thinking about the facts of the case and the details will assist the attorney in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the case.
- Create a list of doctors and hospitals who treated you after the accident. Provide the doctor and hospital's name, phone number and the location where you received treatment. Frequently, doctors have multiple outpatient offices where they see patients. Ensuring that your attorney has the correct contact information for your treaters will save time.
- Bring any medical records you may have in your possession. Bulging disc or herniated disc? Cervical vs thoracic, lumbar vs sacral? Medical terminology can be confusing and complicated. Attorneys do not expect that you went to medical school. Bringing any and all medical records you have in your possession related to the accident can help in the evaluation of your case. If you don't have your records, don't worry, we can always request them from the doctor/hospital directly.
- List of witnesses. Did anyone see the accident take place? Was a friend or family member present at the scene? Your attorney will want to speak with them to find out what he or she saw. Bringing a list of names and telephone numbers of witnesses (if known) can help move your case forward.
- Copy of accident report/incident report. If you have a copy of the police report or incident report, bring it with you to the meeting so your attorney can review it.
- Pictures of injuries, accident scene, vehicle damage, etc. Bring any and all pictures of your injuries that you may have taken in the days, weeks or months after your accident. If you took pictures of the accident scene, vehicle damage, or anything else relevant to your claim, your personal injury attorney will certainly want to see them.
- Name of your insurance company, policy and/or declarations page. Bring a copy of your auto insurance policy, specifically the declarations page (usually the first page of your policy that outlines your insurance coverage). Also bring your health insurance information, including Medicare and Medicaid information, if applicable.
Carving out time to prepare and think about your case before meeting with your personal injury attorney allows him or her to better evaluate your potential case, as well as saves time down the road.
Metro Detroit Injury Lawyers is a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan law firm practicing in personal injury law. Contact us today at 248-430-8929 for a free consultation and evaluation of your case, with no obligation.