When injured in a car accident, it’s common to feel bent out of shape. Your car might be a compressed chunk of metal. You might be sitting in the hospital or at home nursing some nasty injuries. And going to work, school, or about your daily routine? Yeah … so much for that.
It’s normal to vent (and we certainly encourage you to vent). But, as they say, revenge is a dish best served by your lawyer. So here’s some advice for preparing for your initial consultation with a car accident attorney.
1. Make a Timeline
Cases are built on the facts. Your lawyer is going to want as many details as possible, and will press you for specifics, specifics, specifics. What happened, when did it happen, how did it happen, and in what order did it happen? It’s a good idea to make a timeline with as much information and detail as possible. This will get you thinking about the case from a legal perspective, and give your lawyer a prepared account of the facts right off the bat.
2. Bring Records and Documents
Written documentation is very important to lawyers, and gathering it is a major part of preparing a case. Prepare copies of accident reports, insurance information, witness contact information, medical records, photographs from the scene, and names of doctors, nurses, police officers, chiropractors, and medical facilities — everything connected with the accident. You can use a checklist to gather records in advance.
3. Be Prepared to Answer Questions
Lawyers are trained to tease out information and details with questions. You should be prepared to answer all of them as best you can. Besides being a tool for figuring out what happened, your responses tell a lawyer other, more subtle things too. Like whether you’d be a good client to take on and how a jury might respond to you on the witness stand. It’s never too early to strategize!
4. Ask the Questions You Want to Ask
Lawyers are trained to be lawyers, but no one is trained to be a client. The best way to get information is to ask an attorney. Feel free to ask a lawyer about her experience handling similar cases, background and training, fees, and what you should expect going forward. Knowing what to expect can bring relief and help make sure you and your lawyer are on the same page going forward.
Related Resources
- Find Personal Injury Lawyers in Your Area (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
- Car Accidents (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
- Top 7 Car Accident Lawsuit Questions (FindLaw’s Injured)
