What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Personal Injury Lawyer

What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Wrongful injuries can occur in a variety of circumstances, which is why it’s important to consult with a personal injury lawyer in San Jose whenever you are injured at the hands of another individual or company. The first meeting you have with your personal injury attorney is a critical point in your quest to obtain fair compensation, so it’s important that you come prepared. Here are some important things to bring to your initial consultation:

Evidence of Negligence

Although it’s your lawyer’s job to prove that the individual or company who caused your injury is liable for the accident, you can greatly speed up your personal injury matter by supplying any evidence you may have of neglect on the part of the responsible parties. For example, you may have pictures of the scene where the injury occurred that shows negligence, such as a wet floor without proper signage.

Injury Documentation

Any documentation you can provide pertaining to your injuries can greatly increase the value of your personal injury claim. In addition to reports from doctors and other healthcare professionals regarding the extent of your injuries, be sure to bring copies of your medical bills to show how much the injury has cost you thus far. You should also bring information about anticipated future medical costs resulting from your injury.

Questions

Before you meet with your personal injury attorney, prepare a list of questions to help you understand the process going forward. Some examples of good questions to ask a personal injury lawyer during your initial consultation include:

• How much is my personal injury claim worth?
• How long will it take to bring this matter to a conclusion?
• Do you anticipate my claim going to trial?
• What are your fees and how do you charge for legal representation?