What to Expect When You Meet with a Personal Injury Lawyer for the First Time

first meeting with personal injury lawyerIf you were injured in an accident through no fault of your own, it is in your best interest to seek legal representation. You may be eligible to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But if you have never met with a personal injury lawyer, you may not know what to expect.

Your first meeting will provide you with the opportunity to discuss your potential claim with a legal professional and get a good idea about the legal process. You will also get a better sense of what it will feel like to work closely with a licensed Oshkosh personal injury lawyer. Sigman Janssen offers a free consultation. During this consultation, the lawyer will likely discuss the following topics:

Case Assessment

An important part of the first meeting is a case assessment in which the lawyer evaluates whether you have a claim. The lawyer will need to know more about the circumstances surrounding your claim to give you a proper evaluation. He or she will ask you about what type of accident you were involved in, how you were injured, witnesses to the accident and so on. Be sure to provide honest and thorough information during this process so that the lawyer can give you accurate feedback on how to proceed.

Information and Documentation to Bring

During your initial consultation, the lawyer will ask for a lot of information, so try to gather all documents and other evidence that can help you answer these questions fully. Some information and documentation that may be helpful includes:

  • Copy of the accident report
  • Pictures of the accident scene, property damage and your injuries
  • Names and phone numbers of witnesses who saw the accident
  • Contact and insurance information of the at-fault party
  • A list of medical providers you have seen since your accident
  • Names and contact information for every insurance adjuster you spoke with
  • Your own insurance information
  • Any communication you have received from insurance companies related to the accident

Explanation of the Legal Process

The lawyer will explain the process involved in making a claim with the insurance company and taking legal action. He or she will discuss the step-by-step legal process, which may involve the following:

  • Investigation of the claim
  • Review of medical records and other evidence
  • Preparation of a demand for compensation
  • Negotiation with the insurance company to obtain a fair settlement
  • Presentation of supplemental evidence to support your demand
  • Filing of a lawsuit if the insurance company did not agree to a fair settlement
  • Completion of the discovery process, including gathering additional information about the case from the other side, as well as providing responses to the other side’s questions
  • Pretrial settlement conferences and/or mediation
  • Going to trial, if this becomes necessary

The lawyer can give you a general timeline of how long this process is expected to take and estimate an approximate value of your claim.

List of Questions to Ask the Lawyer

There are many questions you may want to ask your lawyer, such as:

  • How many personal injury cases have you handled and what was their outcome?
  • Have you handled a case like mine before?
  • How long have you been practicing law?
  • How much of your legal practice is based on personal injury cases?
  • What is the best way to contact you?
  • How do you charge?
  • What is the time limit for filing a lawsuit?
  • How long will it take before I receive a settlement check?
  • What are the particular problems you see regarding my claim?
  • What is the value of my case?

Request a Free Consultation Today

It is important that you contact an experienced lawyer if you were injured because of the negligence of someone else. You only have a limited amount of time to file a claim. Sigman Janssen provides a free consultation to give you a better idea about your claim and to discuss how we can help.

There are no upfront fees for our services if you hire us and only get paid if you obtain compensation. We are available to take your call or chat online 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Contact us today at (877) 888-5201 to discuss your legal options.