If you have been injured in an accident, you may be considering hiring a personal injury lawyer. However, many people may not know what to expect when they meet with a personal injury attorney. Here are a few things that may be discussed during your initial consultation:
Authorization Form
Your attorney may request that you sign a release form to allow your medical records to be sent to his or her office. This information will be needed to prove your injuries.
Insurance
Do you have insurance coverage? Your attorney will usually want to discuss the type and amount of insurance involved.
Insurance Adjusters
If you have signed any paperwork or recorded a statement for an insurance adjuster, your attorney will want to know. The documents could limit the amount of compensation that you can be awarded.
Pain
The lawyer may want to know how you are healing and what the doctors believe about your potential recovery. If your injuries are not fully treatable or will cause chronic pain, your suffering could impact your settlement amount.
Physician's Care
If you are not already under the care of a physician, your attorney may advise that you see one. Sometimes, injuries are not immediately evident but surface after a prolonged period. Nevertheless, if you try to pursue compensation for the injuries at a later time, you may have trouble proving that the problems are related to your accident.
Retainer
If the attorney agrees to take your case, he or she may ask you to sign an agreement that allows him or her to represent you. The document may also include the amount of compensation that will be paid to the attorney if a settlement is awarded.
Next Steps
The attorney will let you know the next steps in the process. If the lawyer believes a lawsuit will need to be filed, he or she can give you an overview of the usual time frames and court appearances involved. In addition, if the lawyer feels that a settlement will be reached, he or she may give an approximate settlement time, based on past experiences.
Future Communication
The attorney will usually give you contact information for questions and concerns. In addition, he or she will advise you of how the law office will keep you informed about your case. Some attorneys may send letters; others may call you periodically.
If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, an attorney, such as someone from the Denali Law Group, may be able to help you obtain compensation. Contact a personal injury attorney today to schedule a consultation.
