What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Car Accident Attorney
If you were seriously hurt in a motor-vehicle collision, meeting with a car accident attorney is one of the first steps on the road to recovery. As long as you have grounds for a claim, a resourceful personal injury lawyer can help you build a strong case, so you can pursue compensation for all associated losses.
Chances are you’ve never met with a car accident attorney, though, and you’re not entirely sure what to expect. We’ve created this handy guide to help you prepare for the initial consultation, so your claim gains momentum from day one.
To ensure your first meeting is as productive as possible, bring the following items with you:
1. A Description of the Accident in Your Own Words
As soon as possible after the crash, write down everything you can remember about the circumstances surrounding the incident. From the weather conditions to the number of onlookers, no detail is too small to include in your account.
Stick to the facts in your retelling, but include a paragraph at the end that discusses your personal opining about why the wreck occurred. If you have reason to believe the other driver was drunk, drowsy, or distracted, for example, you should state as much here, so your legal team can look into it.
2. Medical Records
Your lawyer will want to review your medical records to determine the potential value of your claim. Documents worth bringing to your initial consultation include:
• Hospital intake forms,
• Diagnostic images,
• Prescriptions, and
• Health insurance statements.
3. Documentation for Any Injury-Related Expenses
Virtually all the expenses that you wouldn’t have incurred had you not gotten hurt are recoverable—if you can prove them. As such, it’s imperative to save receipts for expenditures like replacement services, home care, and alternative transportation that you’ve had to cover since the accident. Bring whatever documentation you’ve accumulated up to this point to your first meeting with your attorney.
4. Any Correspondence You’ve Already Had with the Opposing Party
If the other motorist or their insurer has reached out to you since the accident, bring that correspondence to your initial case review. This might include text messages, voicemails, emails, and letters.
If you have any phone conversations with the opposing party, ask if you can record the exchange (in the state of Florida, all parties involved must consent to being recorded). If you’re unable to record the conversation for whatever reason, take notes during the call, and supplement them with any details you can remember as soon as possible after. Bring these transcripts to your first legal meeting.
Speak with a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
Do you need a personal injury attorney in the Sunshine State? Look no further than Emerson Straw.
Our tenacious team is determined to see every claim through to the end, and we have secured numerous six- and seven-figure payouts on behalf of our valued clients as a result. To set up your first meeting with a car accident attorney in Florida, call (727) 821-1500 or fill out our Online Contact Form.