6 Things to Know About a Free Personal Injury Attorney Consultation
If you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or any other kind of accident, because of another party’s negligence, you should schedule an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney. Take your time to conduct research on personal injury attorneys near you and then schedule an initial consultation where you can discuss your case. The good news is that most if not all, personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation. You don’t have to worry about the cost of an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Before you schedule an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney, there are some important things you need to know about a free personal injury attorney consultation. Below, we discuss six things you should know about a free personal injury attorney consultation.
#1: You Must Give a Detailed Account of Your Accident
During your initial consultation with a personal injury attorney, you will spend most of the time explaining what occurred. This is because, by the time you are done with your first meeting with a personal injury attorney, they should clearly understand what happened. Also, you must give a detailed account of your accident during your initial consultation with a personal injury attorney because if your case goes to trial, you will need to give this account in a deposition or in front of the court. The personal injury attorney must confirm that you clearly understand what happened. During the initial consultation, the attorney can assess your believability. If the attorney notices any issues with the way you present your case, they may coach you on how to tell your story in a better way in the future.
#2: You Will Discuss the Viability of Your Case
After you give an account of your accident, the personal injury attorney will discuss the viability of your case. It may be possible that your personal injury case is not appropriate for a lawsuit. It may be possible that you will not recover any financial compensation after you file your personal injury case. Unfortunately, these are just facts. During your initial consultation with a personal injury attorney, the attorney will advise you on whether or not your case is worth pursuing.
However, if an attorney tells you that your case is not worth pursuing, it is advisable that you seek a second opinion. The attorney may refer you to another attorney for a second opinion, or you can look for one yourself.
#3: Use Your Time Effectively
Because initial consultations are free, they are usually short meetings. For example, you may have only thirty minutes to consult with a personal injury attorney. It is important that you use your time effectively. This entails gathering relevant documents and preparing questions for the lawyer before your consultation. Documents you should gather before your initial consultation include accident and/or police reports, insurance information, and medical records.
#4 What You Discuss Is Confidential
You may be worried that the lawyer will disclose the information you share with them during the consultation to others. If you are worried about this, you should know that the attorney-client privilege rule protects your communication with a personal injury attorney. What you share with a personal injury attorney during an initial consultation is private. You should feel free to share anything you believe is relevant to your case, even if you think it might paint you in a bad light.
#5: You Are Under no Obligation To Hire the Attorney
Personal injury attorneys provide free initial consultations without requiring you to hire them. So you should not feel pressured to hire a personal injury lawyer. Before hiring a personal injury attorney, ensure you feel comfortable with your choice. If you are unsure about hiring a particular personal injury attorney, seek a second opinion.
#6: You Should Listen and Take Notes
There is a lot you can learn during an initial consultation. Therefore, ensure you listen to the attorney and take notes. Take note of what you like and don’t like about the attorney and any perspective the attorney offers on your case. For instance, by noting down what you like and don’t like about an attorney, you can ensure you have what you need to decide whether to hire that particular attorney.
For reference, here is source information from Cornell University.
Contact a Naples Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve suffered injuries in Florida because of another party’s negligence and need legal help, contact our skilled and dedicated Naples personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro to schedule a free consultation.
