Meeting with a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident, whether it was a slip-and-fall on public property, a workplace incident, or a motor vehicle collision, the best course of action is to work with a personal injury lawyer. If your injuries are serious, you may be struggling with pain and worried about the future. A personal injury lawyer can be a great support during this time by taking care of all of the details of your claim, while also making sure that you receive the compensation that you’re entitled to.
The first consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Ontario is usually provided free of charge. This gives you the opportunity to present the facts of your situation to a knowledgeable professional, and to find out more about the options that you have. It can also work as a “meet-and-greet” for you both, to consider whether or not you want to work together. Personal injury lawyers consistently obtain larger settlements for their clients, because they can assess the value of claims and possess the necessary negotiating skills. They work on a contingency basis, which means that they receive a percentage of the settlement; this ensures that you will not be placed under greater financial pressure while you are injured.
What to Bring
Before you meet with a personal injury lawyer, there are a few items that should be addressed. Of course, you should first seek appropriate medical treatment, and, when possible, obtain a long-term prognosis for your recovery. Be sure to follow doctors’ instructions closely. You should report the accident to your insurance company within seven days. And before speaking to a lawyer, you should refrain from discussing the details of the accident with anyone else. Finally, you should prepare for the meeting as thoroughly as you can. You should also bring as much of the pertinent paperwork as possible, including:
- Medical information. This might include documents that outline your diagnosis and/or treatment, documentation from physiotherapist or chiropractor visits, and documents that outline any future treatment that will be necessary. It could also include ambulance bills, the name and address of the hospital where you were first admitted, hospital admittance and release dates, and a list of current medications.
- Insurance information. This should include all information about your health insurance coverage, and any information about auto insurance coverage if the injury was the result of a motor vehicle accident.
- Work information. If you lost income or missed days of work due to the injury, please list dates missed and estimate or bring proof of lost wages.
- Official reports. Obtain a copy of the police report that details the accident, or any other reports that might have been made of the incident.
- Photos. If there were any photos taken at the scene, try to obtain copies.
- Your story of the accident. As soon as you are able, it’s important to write down everything that you remember about the accident. Try to be concise, write as many details of the accident as you can, as well as the aftermath. Write about how the injuries have affected your life, and what you expect the impact to be in the future. Be sure to include information about how the injuries have impacted your family, too.
What to Ask
The lawyer will be assessing your case and deciding whether or not he or she wants to take it on. You should also be making a decision as to whether or not this lawyer should be the one to represent you. You can ask the lawyer any questions you might have about their firm and their own experience and skills. These might include:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- How long have you been doing personal injury cases?
- How many cases do you settle in a year?
- Will you be handling my case personally? Will any other lawyers be working on my case? Will a paralegal be assigned to my case?
- What is the largest personal injury settlement you’ve ever received?
- Do you do any other types of cases? If so, what percentage of your caseload involves personal injury?
- How many times have you tried lawsuits related to personal injury? How many have you tried in the past five years?
- What are the problems with my case?
- Do you think my case could be settled without filing a lawsuit?
- How long do you think it will take before my case is resolved?
- How will you communicate with me about my case?
- Do you return phone calls the same day?
During your meeting, pay attention to whether or not communication between you and the lawyer is clear and direct. Finding a good personal injury lawyer can be one of the most important things you’ll ever do.
Contact a personal injury law firm today and learn more about your settlement options.