Nearly every injury attorney offers free consultations and operates on a contingency fee basis. When selecting your lawyer, be sure to ask about their experience as well as the length of time they have been practicing law.
Be sure to ask them how many cases similar to yours they have handled in the past, preferably an personal injury attorney who specializes in accident law.
Medical History Helps with Personal Injuries
Your medical history is an account of everything related to your health and well-being, from any current or past ailments that you’ve had, as well as family medical histories that could impact future wellbeing – for instance if there is a history of heart disease in your family history you may be at greater risk of experiencing it yourself.
Your personal medical history is crucial in helping your attorney ascertain how much compensation is owed to you. If you have experienced serious injuries such as brain trauma, spinal cord injury or any other form of disability, their lawyer must understand their effects on daily life – this includes any pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life.
Provide your personal injury attorney with information regarding any medications you are currently taking. This should include the name and frequency of every dose as well as how they’re taken (oral, intravenous or injection). Furthermore, your personal injury attorney will need to know if there have been any adverse reactions due to them in the past.
Additionally, it is helpful to inform your personal injury lawyer of all past surgeries or procedures you have had, including dates of occurrence, complications that arose and their outcomes. Also useful would be notifying him/her of any planned surgeries in the near future.
If you need assistance from your personal injury attorney in providing information for their investigation, don’t be intimidated to reach out! Experienced lawyers are usually more than willing to answer any of your queries.
Interviewing potential personal injury lawyers requires finding out their length of experience as well as their willingness to accept cases on a contingency fee basis – this means the lawyer only receives payment if their clients recover money through them; nearly all firms that specialize in personal injury offer this option for clients.
Your injuries
At your initial meeting with your personal injury attorney, it is vital that you are honest about how injuries have impacted your daily life and any compensation available to you for pain and suffering or other losses that result from them. This should include reporting any ongoing symptoms post-accident that could become more serious over time.
Document all costs related to your injury, such as hiring someone else to mow your lawn or drive your kids to school, as well as extra car-related expenses such as gas and maintenance costs. Likewise, keep copies of any invoices or receipts related to medical-related costs like physical therapy sessions that you incur as a result.
Insurance companies for both the at-fault party and yourself will likely request medical records as part of your claim, yet before turning over any records or signing a blanket HIPAA release it’s advisable to speak to an attorney first as insurers often scrutinize injury victims’ medical histories in an effort to deny or undervalue claims.
Further, be aware that the law prohibits you from disclosing preexisting conditions that have no direct relationship to your injuries, as their lawyers might argue this in order to reduce liability and avoid being sued.
Not only should you document the impact of your injuries on your life, but it’s advisable to also take photos or videos at the scene of the accident. These will allow your attorney to reconstruct what occurred including layout and distance between objects at the time of impact; additionally, photos can demonstrate effects such as whiplash injuries or scarring after burns – this documentation will strengthen your case while making lawyering easier and leading to more favorable outcomes while saving both parties time in focusing on more pressing matters related to your case.
Your Financial Situation
Your personal injury compensation amount will depend in part on your current financial status. If you are struggling to make ends meet, be sure to inform your lawyer so he or she can take this into consideration when calculating a settlement amount. Likewise, in cases of incapacitation it’s crucial that this information be shared so an attorney can recommend alternative sources of income during your claim process.
Personal injury lawyers that genuinely care about helping their clients gain financial resources will strive to offer excellent representation throughout the duration of your claim. You can tell if a lawyer is invested in their clients by asking for references; quality personal injury lawyers will gladly provide contact info of previous clients willing to talk with you about their experience.
An important question for any potential personal injury lawyer to ask themselves is if they have handled cases similar to your own in the past. This will give an idea of their experience with handling general personal injury claims as well as expertise with specific types of claims like yours.
Ask any potential personal injury lawyers you are interviewing about their trial experience, since many who advertise themselves as trial lawyers actually lack jury trial experience. Insurance companies will likely favor attorneys with trial experience over those without it.
Make sure that you ask any potential personal injury lawyers about their fees. Most injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis; that means they only get paid if their clients successfully secure compensation from an insurer. In certain instances, however, lawyers may charge an hourly rate.
Personal injury lawyers require many details from you and it’s crucial that they receive them in an honest way. One way of telling if an attorney is committed to meeting your needs is how quickly they respond to emails or phone calls and how well they communicate during your case.
Here are some tips on what to tell your personal injury lawyer after an accident:
- Be as detailed as possible. The more information you can provide, the better your lawyer will be able to represent you. This includes the date, time, and location of the accident, as well as the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Be honest. Your lawyer needs to know the full story, even if it’s not pretty. This includes any mistakes you may have made that contributed to the accident.
- Gather evidence. This includes things like police reports, medical records, and photographs of the accident scene.
- Keep track of your expenses. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs you’ve incurred as a result of the accident.
- Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your lawyer questions about your case. The more you understand, the better equipped you’ll be to make decisions about your case.
Here are some specific things you should tell your lawyer:
- The details of the accident. This includes what happened, who was involved, and what injuries you sustained.
- Your medical history. This is important because it can help your lawyer determine the extent of your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life.
- Your financial losses. This includes medical bills, lost wages, and any other costs you’ve incurred as a result of the accident.
- Your expectations. What are you hoping to achieve with your case? Are you looking for compensation for your injuries, or are you also seeking punitive damages?
It’s also important to be prepared to answer questions from your lawyer. They may ask you about your employment history, your education, and your family situation. This information can help them assess the value of your case and determine the best course of action.
Remember, your lawyer is there to help you. They have the experience and knowledge to guide you through the legal process and get you the compensation you deserve. So be honest with them, answer their questions, and let them do their job.
Your future plans
Discuss your future plans with your personal injury lawyer to enable them to tailor the case towards your goals and needs. For instance, if you plan on returning to school or starting a new job soon, they’ll want to understand these plans so they can develop plans designed to help achieve your objectives.
Likewise, if you plan to retire early or make changes in your career, consulting with a personal injury lawyer will help make informed decisions and offer suggestions of legal strategies which might assist in meeting your goals.
At your initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer, they may inquire as to your future plans for work and assess whether their practice aligns with your personality and working style. For instance, if you are highly ambitious and motivated in furthering your career then a personal injury lawyer might be an ideal match; on the other hand, if you prefer remaining content with remaining in one position for years to come then their services might not be an ideal match for you.
Your future plans can help your personal injury lawyer assess if they have enough time and energy to devote to your lawsuit. Personal injury lawyers typically operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning they don’t get paid until they secure compensation for you; thus, many personal injury lawyers are extremely busy and may not have room for new clients.
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, it is always advisable to speak to some of their previous clients. A reputable personal injury attorney should gladly supply contact details of previous clients as references, or you could look up testimonials on their website or social media accounts – but watch out for claims that seem too good to be true, such as saying they regularly try cases in court when in fact they only have limited trial experience.
