What to Bring to an Attorney Meeting
As Benjamin Franklin pointed out, "time is money." That's particularly true when it comes to an attorney's billable hours. Even though most personal injury lawyers handle cases on a contingency basis – meaning that the client will pay a percentage of the total settlement, not an hourly rate – a lawyer's time is valuable. It's important to be prepared for any attorney meeting. At The Mike Kelly Law Group, we appreciate the fact that your time is valuable, too.
Some attorneys send questionnaires for new clients to complete before the initial case consultation takes place. Whether or not that happens, as the victim, you should be proactive and take it upon yourself to provide all relevant information at the outset. Here is some of the information you should bring to your initial attorney consultation:
- Names and contact information of all parties involved in the incident
- A copy of the police report, if one was made
- Bills and treatment records, if appropriate, from ambulance transport, hospitals, doctors, therapists and drug providers
- A copy of your insurance policy and documentation of any claims you've made related to this injury
- Copies of any insurance company correspondence related to the injury
- Information about the amount of work you've missed and any pay that you've lost because of your absence
In addition to the above, it's also a good idea to bring a list of your own questions. Some things you may want to ask:
- Will you take the case on a contingency basis?
- How are any additional expenses handled?
- How much experience do you have in personal injury law?
- What is your success rate in this type of case?
- How long do you anticipate it will take for the case to be settled or go to trial?
