The first step in getting the compensation that you deserve after an injury comes as you choose your Fort Myers, FL personal injury attorney. Your first meeting with your attorney is an important one. Here’s what to bring to that first consultation.
All the Essential Documents
You’ll need documents identifying you and providing your phone number, email, and mailing addresses. If you are bringing a claim on behalf of a minor or an incapacitated person, you’ll need to bring the legal documents showing that you are the guardian or legal representative of that person.
Next, make sure you have all the documents related to your accident itself. A report, whether you made that with the police or with a business, should be included as well as all your medical records and bills.
Then, gather up and bring all your insurance documents and copies of any correspondence that you’ve had with the insurance company so far. Finally, if you have had to miss work because of the accident, you’ll need to bring proof of your income and any correspondence you’ve had with your employer.
The Evidence
The next thing to bring is whatever evidence you have beyond the initial report. Ideally, this will include photos and videos of the accident scene, any property that was damaged, and any injuries you sustained. Be ready to provide your lawyer with contact information for any witnesses.
If you have any correspondence related to the accident, be sure to bring that. You’ll also want to bring receipts for any expenses you’ve had that can help to show what happened. For example, if you never take Ubers, but you suddenly started taking them on rides to and from your home and your doctor’s office after the accident, this can be used to help prove you were injured in the crash or that your car was damaged.
Your List of Questions
You should also come to your first consultation prepared with a list of questions you want to ask. Be sure to ask the attorney how much experience they have with cases like yours, what the legal fees will be like, whether they think you have a strong case and how long it’s likely to take, and what the next steps will be if they decide to take your case and you decide to proceed with them.
You might also ask who will be communicating with you, as this may not be the attorney directly. That’s not something to worry about: attorneys have highly specialized skills, so hiring staff to do basic communication frees up an attorney to spend their time on things only they can do. But you should still know who will be calling or emailing you and when you should expect to speak to the attorney directly.
To set up your first free consultation, contact Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, P.A. in Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Naples, or Cape Coral today.