Legal action is usually necessary following an accident that results in injury. The first thing many personal injury victims do after an accident is schedule an initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. An initial consultation provides an injury victim and attorney an opportunity to discuss the victim’s case and determine whether legal action is the best option. In this article, we explain what happens during a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.
The Purpose of an Initial Consultation
An initial consultation with a personal injury attorney serves several purposes. For the accident victim, an initial consultation provides an opportunity to ask the attorney questions about his or her experience, past results, opinion of the victim’s case, and more. For the attorney, the consultation allows him or her to determine whether the accident victim has a case that is likely to succeed. An initial consultation also provides both parties an opportunity to gauge their comfort with one another and ultimately determine whether they should form an attorney-client relationship.
Preparing for an Initial Consultation
To get the most out of an initial consultation, it is important for the accident victim to arrive prepared. Ordinarily, the attorney or a staff member of the attorney’s law firm will advise the prospective client if there is something specific that he or she should bring to the consultation. Otherwise, however, an accident victim should bring as much pertinent information as possible to his or her initial consultation. Common items to bring to an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney include:
- The names of witnesses
- Statements by witnesses
- Relevant voicemails, texts, or social media posts
- Notes taken by the victim during any conversations with insurers
- Video recordings or photographs of the accident site and injuries
- Police reports
- Copies of all medical records and bills
The Importance of Honesty During an Initial Consultation
In addition to bringing pertinent information to an initial consultation, an injury victim must bring a willingness to be honest and open with his or her prospective attorney. Without a complete understanding of the circumstances of the incident that led to the victim’s injuries, the attorney will be unable to properly advocate for his or her client. Therefore, when meeting with an attorney, it is imperative to be forthcoming about the events that led to the accident—even facts that may favor the defendant in the case.
Contact a Pensacola Lawyer
If you’ve suffered injuries in a Florida accident, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., are here to help. Our experienced attorneys provide competent and compassionate representation to accident victims in Pensacola and throughout Northwest Florida. When you come to us for help following a personal injury, we will do everything in our power to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Posted in: Personal Injury