Personal injuries—which include slip and fall, burns, medical malpractices, etc.—can hit your life hard. To some, it will mean the end of making an income. These injuries can also render you immobile. However, you can file for compensation and revert back to normal life. Hiring a good lawyer will make things easier for you. However, you should choose the right Houston Personal Injury Lawyer. Start with a free consultation. With a free consultation, you have a chance of assessing the lawyer and ascertaining if he/she is up to the task. This guide is going to take you through all things fee consultation and how to get the most out of it.
What to Expect
During the first meeting, the lawyer will want to establish the nature of your case. He/she will hear from you. Here, you will have to provide a detailed account of what happened. Your lawyer will collect different pieces of info before making a decision. Here is how to prepare for the initial free consultation.
Asking About Statute of Limitations
Any lawsuit, including personal injury ones, is guided by the statute of limitation. These are the timelines of filing your lawsuit. For instance, not acting fast can see your case struck out of court because of the statute of limitation. So, consider whether your case is within their statutes of limitations. So, ask your lawyer about the timelines of your case. Ensure that you are within the timelines. Read your state’s laws regarding the statutes of limitations when it comes to personal injury cases.
Understand Your Attorney
Research and understand the attorney you want to partner with. Take your game online. Conduct some basic background search. Choose a lawyer with enough experience in personal injury cases. A free consultation gives you the chance to understand the lawyer you are about to work with. It also gives the lawyer an opportunity to understand your case, address your concerns, answer some questions, as well as offer some legal advice regarding your case. Here, you will learn about your rights, responsibilities, and how to conduct yourself through the trial period.
Come With All the Required Documents
Personal injury cases involve a lot of documentation. Thus, you will need to come with several documents during the initial consultation. Here, your lawyer will go through these documents and assess the viability of your case. Thus, come with the following documentation:
Photographs—come with photographs that document the accident scene and the extent of your injuries. These documents will form part of the evidence.
Accident reports—Accident reports are prepared by the police or other law enforcement officers. Like photographs, accident reports are used as part of evidence during a personal injury lawsuit,
Police notes—Request police investigation notes before leaving the accident scene. Bring these notes with you during the initial consultation.
Other Documents
Also, bring the following additional documents with you during the initial consultation:
- Citations or tickets and witness statements
- The contact details of the witnesses
- Notes from your doctor
- X-Ray results
- CT scans results
- MRI results
- Insurance information
- The other driver’s details
This information gives your attorney a clear picture of your case. It will help your attorney make an informed decision regarding your case.
Injury Claim Notes
A personal injury claim involves 2 critical parts. They include:
The actual accident—here, you will be required to document what happened during the accident. You should also explain what caused the accident.
Injuries—you should tell your lawyer the type of personal injuries you suffered. Also, the lawyer will want to know the type of harm you suffered.
Remember, personal injuries can go through several stages. Documenting each and every stage is important. It will help your lawyer understand the damages and how to go about applying for the right compensation.
It’s also important to note that evidence preservation is important. Thus, you should take notes on the accident scene. Don’t wait. Take these notes immediately after the accident. Doing so will help strengthen your case—and ultimately give you a better claim.
How to Take Notes
Here is how to take notes after the accident:
What happened? Note the prevailing weather conditions. If possible, take photos of the weather condition. You can also take videos. Write down the names and contact details of all witnesses. Note down what they said. Again, you can take videos. Note down how you felt after the accident. What’s the condition of your injuries? How are you feeling now? Don’t forget to classify your injuries. Whether physical or mental, documenting the nature and extent of the injuries will help the lawyer make an informed decision.
From here, consider documenting the nature of the medical attention you sought. Here, note down the hospital you went to, the scans that were done, and even the medicines you took. Still more, you should indicate how the injuries are affecting your life, particularly work. Are they hindering your ability to work? What about walking? Clearly document the effect of these injuries in both your social and personal life. Take note of the days you missed work and how that affected your income. Also, if these injuries affect your family relationship, note it down.
Taking notes will help you during the consultation and trial of your case. It will also form part of the evidence. Your lawyer will use this information to mount a serious case and seek the best compensation for your personal injury lawsuit. Remember, the amount you receive as compensation is based on the evidence presented. Strong evidence translates to a strong case. Consequently, you will get what you deserve.
Consider Giving Your Lawyer a Detailed Account
The lawyer will request a detailed account of what happened. Here, you will be required to delve into the actual details of the accident. You will start from the accident scene, how you collected evidence, the people who were present, and how the police responded to the accident. From here, tell your doctor how you sought medical treatment and the tests that were conducted.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s your right to know everything about the case. So, be note down all pressing issues. Seek clarification from your attorney. Remember, consultations can’t last forever. For this reason, it’s important to prepare in advance. Make sure that you’ve captured everything you’ve been wondering about. If you do that, you can rest assured that your consultation with the attorney will be successful.
For instance, you may want to consider asking the lawyer how long the process will take, how your medical bills will be settled, what evidence you’ll be required to produce, as well as, how much compensation you deserve. Aside from this, you’ll definitely want to ask how much fees you’ll be expected to pay for their legal services.
Understand Your Case’s Viability
Once you have shared your experiences with the attorney, he or she will provide you with in-depth information about the feasibility of your case. Remember, not all personal injury cases need lawsuits. Thus, be sure to ask your attorney about the available options. He or she has the right expertise to evaluate your case and devise the best course of action.
If you decide to take the case to court, the attorney will explain to you the laws that cover your specific situation. He or she will also present to you the strategy they intend to employ so as to get you maximum compensation for your damages.
Understand The Fees
After discussing the possible options and strategies, it’s time you and your attorney deal with the logistics. Most lawyers charge contingency fees, meaning that you won’t have to pay anything unless they manage to recover compensation for your damages. So, even if you don’t have any finances, you can still obtain legal representation.
This payment strategy also gives the lawyer incentive to work harder in order to get you the highest amount of compensation possible. Once you have agreed to the fees, go ahead and sign the necessary documents.
Choose the Right Attorney
Do you what to hire the best lawyer? Here are simple tips to help you make the best decision.
What Type Of Lawyer Should You Hire?
Carefully evaluate your needs. Remember, not all attorneys are the same. They all have different specialties, qualifications, and experiences. Some are experts in handling motorcycle accidents whereas others are excellent at handling hit-and-run accidents.
Consult From People
Talk to your friends and family members. If they’ve previously worked with a personal injury attorney, ask them to give you recommendations. They can be a reliable source of information. You may also want to consider having them rate their satisfaction.
Know What You Want
When seeking to hire a personal injury attorney, it’s important to know what desirable behaviors you need. And these include traits that’ll help you receive the best representation possible.
Some of the desirable traits include competency, accessibility, responsiveness, passion, and attentiveness. Not only should the attorney be compassionate- he or she must be realistic as well.
Leverage on Free Consultations
Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. So, don’t strain to look for money to build a strong case. Simply look for attorneys who offer free legal consultations and you’ll be good to go. These consultations will help you to determine whether or not you have a valid case. Thus, you will have an overview of what to expect from your case.
Interview More Attorneys
Spend few minutes interviewing your attorney. This will help you make informed judgments. Ask them relevant questions to see how better they understand your case and how they intend to help you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
Again, it’s imperative to avoid making hasty decisions. Interview different attorneys and weigh their experiences, as well as, responses against each other.
Avoid Rogue Lawyers
There are numerous personal injury lawyers online. Choosing the right lawyer is extremely challenging. Thus, there are certain red flags you should avoid. Here are a few red flags you should avoid when contacting a personal injury lawyer:
Unrealistic guarantees—Stay away from a lawyer who gives you unrealistic guarantees. For instance, a lawyer who promises millions of money from your personal injury case is out to take your money. A good lawyer should be honest when it comes to compensation. He/she should give you an honest opinion regarding your case.
Poor Communication Skills—Stay away from lawyers who exhibit poor communication skills. For instance, lawyers who are impersonal should be avoided. Also, if the lawyer fails to return client calls, that’s a red flag.
Ignores Paying Court Related Bills—A lawyer who doesn’t honor paying bills from the court is a bad lawyer. These lawyers should be avoided at all costs.
Over-aggressiveness—Don’t hire an over-aggressive lawyer. He/she may injure your case. A good lawyer should be natural. He/she shouldn’t be combative or overaggressive.
Attorney’s Professional Background
Sample at least 10 lawyers. From here, consider investigating their backgrounds. Go through each lawyer’s background. Go to bar associations. They will give you an overview of any lawyer’s background. Look at each lawyer’s discipline. Where did that lawyer study? Where has he/she practiced? Is the lawyer conversant with personal injury cases? Is he/she a member of any international organization? What about licensing. These questions will help you understand the background of the lawyers you intend to work with.
Success Rate and Testimonials
Look at the success rate of that lawyer. Request him/her to give you testimonials. Follow up with these testimonials. Testimonials help you understand the professional conduct of that lawyer. You will know how he deals with customers. You will also understand how he handles challenging situations. Plus, testimonials will tell you about the lawyer’s success rate. So, call past clients. Try establishing their experience working with that lawyer.
The Bottom-Line
If you want to hire the best lawyer, leverage on a free consultation. A free consultation helps you vet the lawyers. The above are the top things worth knowing as far as free lawyer consultation is concerned.
