How to Prepare for the First Meeting with Your Car Accident Lawyer

Meeting with a personal injury car accident lawyer for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially if you are likely in pain, stressed about your bills, and unsure of what the future holds. The last thing you need is more uncertainty. Preparing for that initial consultation helps you make the most of the meeting and sets the foundation for a strong legal case.

The first meeting, often referred to as an initial consultation or case evaluation, is a two-way street. It is your chance to interview the attorney and the law firm just as much as it is their chance to learn about your Maryland car crash. This is your opportunity to assess their experience, communication style, and determine whether you feel comfortable entrusting them with your personal injury car collision case.

Nobody likes being unprepared, so what should you do before calling or meeting with a personal injury car accident lawyer? First, relax. We know that most people have not had any experience with an injury case or even the legal system, and our personal injury lawyers are there to help you. The Law Offices of Larry B. Litt’s legal team has decade’s of experience!

Knowing what to expect during your first meeting with a car accident lawyer can demystify the process, reduce your anxiety, and empower you to make the best decision for yourself and your family. With that being said, there are some things you can do to help make the first call or meeting more productive. We also recommend you ask some important questions so you can be sure you are selecting the right attorney for you and your case.

What to Expect in Your First Meeting with a Personal Injury Lawyer

It’s always best to bring a few key pieces of evidence and documentation with you to clarify the details of your car crash case. Some paperwork that may be useful include the police report, hospital doctors’ records and any other treating doctors or physician’s reports, car repair estimates, photographs or video footage of the accident scene, correspondence from insurance companies, and a copy of your vehicle insurance policy and/or claims you’ve filed in relation to the car collision.

We will discuss what happened, who’s responsible and the insurers who could potentially compensate you for your injuries and damages. While some of these questions may be difficult to answer, we need accurate and detailed responses to find the best solution for your case. We will do everything possible to make you comfortable during this process, but if you’re nervous, ask a spouse, parent, or friend to accompany you to this meeting.

We collect a variety of information relating to your bodily injury claim and damages, including:

• Your account of what happened during the car accident. If it was a car, truck or motorcycle accident and the if the police responded, have the police report number ready to provide to the lawyer. It is not necessary for you to have the police report. We will get the police report if you do not have it. The number just makes the process a lot easier
• Details about the current state of your injuries that occurred during the accident, such as how much pain you’re experiencing, what your prognosis is, and whether you have been able to work since the car collision. For example, it is helpful to know what medical providers you have seen and how many times you have seen them. It is also helpful to know what additional treatment has been recommended such as future surgeries, physical therapy, x-rays, MRI’s, etc.
• The names and policy numbers of any insurance coverage that could be used to pay the medical bills, prescription costs, vehicle damages, such as auto insurance or health insurance coverage. If you were involved in a car accident, we would like to have a copy of the declarations page of your auto insurance. This is the very first page of your policy and it identifies the type and the amounts of any coverage you purchased. Many injured victims are not exactly sure of the coverage they have as they often rely on assurances by their agent that they have full coverage, etc. We want to review your policy to determine if you have medical payment provisions, underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage, gap coverage, rental coverage, etc. These coverages could help you immensely and we will want to tap your insurance company for those protections if they apply
• Whether you’ve spoken to any insurance adjusters, and if you have, what you said and whether you provided a recorded statement, or received settlement offers. We will want to know if any insurance company has contacted you at all. If so, we will want to know who it was. If we think we can help and you decide to hire us to represent you, we will immediately make contact with the insurance company and ask that all future communication be directed to us so that you can avoid the hassle and work associated with it
• Whether you have spoken to anyone else about the car accident or the details of your injury; such as an employer, and if you have, the details of each discussion
• We would like to know if you are aware of any cameras that may have recorded the car crash. For instance, are you aware of any cameras attached to someone’s house, on a street corner, or on a business. Cameras are now on the exterior of many businesses, and often these cameras capture car accidents and other types of accidents. Do not stress if you do not know. This is information we can determine, if necessary, in due time
• The names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene of the car crash. If you are aware of any witnesses to your car wreck, please have that information ready even if you think they are going to be identified on a police report or a company’s incident report
• Whether you signed a form authorizing the release of medical information to your insurer or allowed anyone involved in the claim to view your medical records.

Keep in mind that your first meeting is protected by attorney-client privilege, even if you ultimately choose not to retain us. You shouldn’t hold back any relevant information, even if certain details are embarrassing or have the potential to hurt your case. We can only represent your interests if we have a full picture of the injury claim; and if the information you’ve provided isn’t accurate, your case may fall apart weeks or months into the process.

We hope this helps you feel more prepared to call or meet with an experienced personal injury car accident lawyer. And again, it is not a problem if you do not have these things. If you do not have this information, we are happy to get it ourselves. It is part of our job. But if you do have this information, it simply helps us make some early decisions and get the ball rolling faster. As always, we are here to help. Give us a call with any questions or concerns. After all, it is free.

Making Your Meeting Count

The decision to speak with a car accident lawyer is a significant step. For many injured victims, it is their first time every dealing with the legal system, and the thought of it can be intimidating. The more prepared you are, the better we can evaluate your personal injury car accident case and provide accurate guidance. Don’t worry if you don’t have every single item listed. We can help you obtain missing documentation as your case develops.

Even partial preparation is better than showing up to your first meeting with a car accident lawyer with nothing but your story. Bring whatever you have and we’ll work together to fill in the gaps and build the strongest possible case for your situation.

Schedule your meeting with an experienced attorney at the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt by calling 443-844-1528. We will review your documentation, assess your claim’s strength, and explain your options for recovering the compensation you deserve for your injuries, damages, and losses. We are available day or night. Call us today!