Checklist to Follow Before Meeting a Personal Injury Attorney in Denver
After an accident, getting an attorney is the next best decision you can make. Before the meeting, you must know how you’ll approach a personal injury attorney in Denver. But how you’re going to meet an attorney for the first time? What are the questions to ask? It can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to ask. This post is designed to guide you on how you will approach an attorney for the first time. Take a look at the checklist:
Contents
What to Expect
Consultation with a personal injury lawyer for the first time is usually free of cost. It can last between 15 and 60 minutes, depending on your case. If you have been browsing the internet, you’ll encounter the phrase “free consultation” on most personal injury lawyer sites. Don’t forget that fees should be discussed upfront before signing any agreement. Attorney’s fees vary from industry to industry, so you better know how much you must pay.
Usually, a personal injury attorney works on a contingency basis, meaning that the attorney will only receive a payment if you win your case. Ask about the percentage of your settlement that will go towards their fee and if there are any additional charges for expenses such as court fees or administrative costs.
Get ready with your narrative
First and foremost, the attorney will assess your situation to know if you have a case or if there are enough witnesses for your case. It’s going to look like an interview, so be ready with your details.
If you evaluate the attorney to know if they are the right one, they are also assessing your case. The initial meeting is going to be as detailed as possible. The attorney may look at some factors, including facts, consistency in the details and story, or familiarization of the incident. If you look unsure about what you are discussing, the attorney has the right to decline their services. Here are some points that you need to tell your lawyer:
- The timeline of the incident.
- What physical injuries have you sustained?
- Medical bills you’ve settled on your own.
- The name of your attending physicians and medications.
- Did you miss work?
- Did you collect disability assistance or payments?
Your credibility is as important as the attorney’s credibility. There may be some problems if you don’t know how you will tell the accident’s timeline.
Don’t be too emotional
Lawyers know how bad your accident could be or how trauma could affect you. However, if you cannot contain your emotions and spill them over at your first meeting, it’s not going to help.
They need facts. Set aside your emotional baggage about the incident. If you use the consultation just to pour out your emotions, you’re wasting their time. There is the right person to handle this, and it’s not them. Their role is to protect your legal rights. If you find it hard to cope with your accident, approach the right professional.
Honesty is the best policy
Tell the lawyer the actual happening before, during, and after the accident. Don’t try to change the facts so that you’ll look better in front of the attorney. If it’s your fault or someone’s, make sure to tell all the details.
Stitching stories isn’t a good idea. Even if you may have a fault, keep in mind that your attorney has the best interest to help you. If you are keeping secrets from them, they cannot help you either. You have to trust them that they can help your case.
Ask if needed your injury attorney in Denver
Lawyers have their language. There are legal terms that are completely strange to you. Don’t pretend that you know all these words. Clarify the meanings of these terms, and ask questions. Ask how it applies to your personal injury case.
When you go home after meeting with the attorney, you don’t want to wonder what those terms mean. Sometimes, they forget you’re unfamiliar with the terms unless you ask.
You must choose a personal injury lawyer who works in your best interest. There may be a chance that they may give you advice that you don’t disagree with. You need someone with real expertise and experience because it’s the main reason why you’re getting a lawyer in the first place. You cannot just proceed with a case on your own. So make sure that you are comfortable working with your attorney.
