Meeting with a personal injury lawyer can be a daunting prospect, especially if it’s your first time meeting with any kind of attorney and you have no idea what to expect. It’s time to relax and let go of the worry, because meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago isn’t as scary as you might imagine. Your attorney is there to help you, so they’re going to do everything they can to put you at ease.
Here we’ll cover everything that you need to know to take the fear or anxiety out of your initial meeting with your personal injury attorney and get the most out of the experience.
Things You Should Know About Your Initial Meeting
The single most important thing to know about your initial meeting with an attorney is the purpose of the meeting, which is twofold. The first purpose of the meeting is for you to get to know the lawyer, more about their experience and what they can bring to your case. This meeting is a chance for you to decide whether the lawyer is the right person to take on your case and ask any questions that you may have about the law practice, the lawyer’s case history and your personal injury case.
The second purpose of the meeting is for the personal injury lawyer to learn more about your case. They’ll be asking questions in order to evaluate your case and determine whether or not there’s a potential for the case to be won. All the information shared during this meeting will be beneficial for your attorney, who’ll be using their knowledge of personal injury law to start working out the viability of your case.
It’s unlikely that your first meeting will take long, especially if you come prepared. Your lawyer will make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible throughout and will clarify any points that you don’t understand or need more information on. This meeting is basically just a conversation!
What You Should Bring to Your Meeting
Exactly what you’ll need to bring to your first meeting will depend on your case and what your lawyer advises prior to the meeting. It’s vital that you bring all the documents and information requested so you can get the most out of the appointment and your lawyer can get a clear idea of your case.
Your lawyer may request that you bring:
Medical records, including any bills, diagnosis and treatment reports, dates of admittance, prescription medication details, and hospital addresses
Receipts of any expenses incurred due to your injury
Official reports, including the police report
Insurance information, such as auto and health coverage
Finance information, such as lost wages
Evidence, including photographs and any correspondence that you’ve had with other parties
The more useful information you can bring and the better organized it is, the faster the meeting can progress and the better informed your lawyer will be at the end.
You'll Be Asked About Prior Accidents and Injuries
This can be a very difficult part of the meeting, especially if the details of your accident and injury are sensitive. It’s important to remember that your lawyer is only asking these questions to learn more about your case and not to make you uncomfortable in any way. The attorney-client privilege will ensure that all the information you share remains confidential.
Your lawyer may ask you questions similar to:
· Have you given any information to insurance companies or other lawyers?
· What injuries did you sustain in the accident?
· How have your injuries affected you day-to-day?
· How painful are your injuries?
· What insurance coverage do you have?
· Is this the first accident you’ve been in?
· What did the doctor say about your injuries?
· Are you in employment?
Going into the meeting prepared to answer these questions will make the whole process much easier and less stressful.
Signing an Attorney Client Agreement
If your lawyer decides to take on your case and you decide that you want to work with them, then you should expect to receive a fair bit of paperwork. This paperwork will include an attorney client agreement.
An attorney client agreement is a contract between you and your lawyer that covers things like fees, the kind of representation that the lawyer will provide and the responsibilities and duties of the lawyer. Included within the agreement will also be information about confidentiality, a definition of your relationship with the lawyer and details about case management and ending the relationship. The agreement may be quite long, but it’s important to read it in full and ask if you’re unsure about anything.
Contingency Fees Explained
Different lawyers have different fee arrangements: some have a fixed fee; others have an hourly fee. Like many personal injury lawyers, at Wojcik Law we use a contingency fee arrangement, so we’ll discuss the specifics of these fees in more detail during your initial consultation.
A contingency fee basically means that a lawyer will only require payment for their services if they win your case. The contingency fee is a predetermined percentage of the settlement or award and should be clearly outlined in your attorney client agreement.
Medical Authorizations
During your initial meeting with your personal injury lawyer, medical authorization will very likely be brought up. Medical authorization is when you authorize for your medical records to be released.
When pursuing a personal injury case, it may be important for your attorney to have access to some or all of your records in order to build a case. There are pros and cons to releasing your medical records, which your lawyer will discuss with you in detail during your consultation. It’s up to you whether you release your records, but it’s important to remember that these can be essential for assessing the extent of injuries and calculating damages.
Now you know what to expect from your first meeting with your personal injury lawyer, it’s time to book a consultation. You can contact Wojcik Law today to book a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Chicago and start discussing your case.