During the first meeting, the lawyer will want to hear your accident story and how it has affected you.
He will ask about your official injury diagnosis, medical treatment, and any losses you have suffered, such as lost income from work.
He will also review your insurance coverage, including health, car, and homeowner policies. This information will help determine if he can represent you.
General Questions
The attorney will want to know the details about your accident and injuries. While this may be uncomfortable and difficult to discuss, New Jersey personal injury lawyers will need the complete picture to determine liable parties, evaluate damages and losses, and identify strategies for pursuing compensation.
Your attorney will also ask general questions about how the incident happened, what injuries you have sustained, how the accident has affected your life (emotionally, physically, financially), and any other facts relevant to your case.
Your attorney may also request copies of all insurance policies in effect at the time of the accident, including health insurance, car insurance, and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Medical Payments (“Med-Pay”) coverage.
Be sure to ask the attorney about their experience with personal injury cases and their success rate. You will likely feel more comfortable working with an experienced lawyer. Also, be sure to ask about the attorney’s billing practices.
Specific Questions
Your Hoboken personal injury lawyer will want to know the details of your accident and injuries. This is not to make you relive the incident but rather to understand the situation thoroughly and determine if there are any liable parties.
This will involve questions such as who, what, when, where, and how the incident happened, your injuries, and how the injury has affected your life.
You will also likely be asked for documentation such as photos, medical records, pay stubs, receipts from property damage, and eyewitness statements.
It is essential to ask how often you expect to hear from your attorney and who will handle your case at the firm. Some lawyers prefer to communicate with clients via phone or email, while others are willing to do so less frequently and favor face-to-face meetings.
It is also helpful to find out whether the attorney has trial experience should your case need to be tried in court.
Legal Issues
The purpose of the first meeting is to allow your lawyer to hear the basic facts and fully understand your case. This is why it’s essential to be honest and share as much as possible about the incident.
Your attorney will likely ask questions about the accident, injuries, and medical history. They may also ask about insurance policies, the impact of your injuries on your work and family life, and if you’ve given any recorded statements to an insurance company or other party.
You should bring all documents about your claim to the first meeting. This can include medical bills, receipts for property damage repair, and timekeeping records demonstrating how much work you missed due to your injuries.
This can help your attorney better assess the damages for your case and identify potential strategies to win your case. You should also expect to discuss your lawyer’s fees.
Many personal injury lawyers will charge a contingency fee based on the money they recover for you.
Fees
During the first meeting, the attorney will want to collect as much information about the accident and your injuries as possible. This information will help them identify liable parties, assess your damages and losses, and develop strategies to pursue a claim.
This is why it’s essential to be open and honest. The attorney-client privilege of the law firm protects everything you say during your initial consultation with an attorney, despite the fact that discussing traumatic events like an injury accident can be uncomfortable.
Your attorney will ask basic questions about your accident, like who, what, when, and where it occurred. They may also ask about your medical records and insurance coverage.
Bringing all your documentation about the incident and any eyewitness accounts can save time during this meeting and make it easier for your attorney to build your case. It can also help the lawyer conduct an independent investigation into your case.
