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The first time you meet with your personal injury lawyer it will set the tone for the rest of your working relationship. During this initial consultation, your attorney will want to know the exact circumstances that prompted you to contact him or her. A good Chicago personal injury attorney will gather as much information as possible from you in order to build the strongest case. The length of this first meeting will depend on your particular situation.
Specifics: What to Expect
An experienced personal injury lawyer will want to garner a full understanding of your case from every angle before moving forward with any type of legal action. This will require detailed answers to many seemingly tedious questions. Your attorney or case manager may also ask you to sign a release that allows them to access all of your medical records from all providers you have seen since your injury.
He or she will need to know what types of insurance coverage you have as well as whether or not you have spoken to one or more insurance adjusters. If you have, your lawyer will want to know if they asked you to provide a recorded or written statement regarding the accident, and if you have yet provided this statement. Your attorney will also ask you to elaborate on the full extent of your injuries—if they are not self-evident.
What You Should Bring
Being properly prepared during your initial consultation can save both time and future stress. This is a partial list of things you may consider bringing with you:
- A list of questions. Most people meeting with a personal injury lawyer will have many questions. However, if you do not write them down, there is a good chance you will not remember all of them.
- A pen and paper. During this meeting, there will be various things discussed, many of which you will want to remember for future reference. Writing them down is a good way to ensure you will have any information you need when you need it.
- Any documents relevant to your case including medical records, police or traffic reports, and any witness statements, if you have them.
In Conclusion
As much as you want to build a wonderful relationship with your personal injury lawyer, you will want to treat this first meeting as you would a job interview. It is important for you to be prompt, be honest, and ask important questions including:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- How many cases have you handled that are similar to mine?
- What were the resolutions of these cases?
- What is your fee schedule?
- How long should I expect my case to take?
- What else will/do you need from me?
At Shea Law Group, we are proud of our reputation for clear and honest communication with our clients, and we will always work diligently to help you achieve a positive outcome to your case. Our highly-experienced and dedicated Chicago personal injury attorneys have handled thousands of personal injury cases, and hundred similar to yours. Set up your free no-obligation consultation today, and let us help you begin to get your life back on track.
