After a car accident, you have a lot on your plate. There are hospital visits to make, insurance agents to call and lawyers to meet up with. If you’re new to hiring a lawyer, here’s what you need to do at your first meeting.
Discuss Your Story
During the initial case assessment, you have to discuss the facts of the case. Sit down and talk with an accident attorney Tampa residents trust about the facts of the case. You need to make sure that you have all of the legal information as well as any information from your insurance company. You can talk to the lawyer about the conversations you’ve had with insurers, what coverage you have and who else you’ve spoken to about the accident. This is where you may also provide police reports, medical bills and other important documents.
Share Every Detail
Don’t leave any details out! It might be tempting to leave out details if you think that it might damage your case or if you think it’s embarrassing. Keep in mind that a lawyer wants to help represent you. In addition, even if you do not hire the lawyer, your first meeting still falls under attorney-client privilege. If you do hire the lawyer, then everything will come out eventually anyway.
Car accident lawsuits tend to settle out of court, in fact, 91 percent of them do. While some may have to go to trial, you want to make sure that your lawyer has all of the information to make the proper negotiations beforehand and in case, you do go to trial.
Question Your Attorney
Before you hire the attorney, you should feel free to ask questions. Throughout the consultation, you may have a variety of questions that spring up. If you don’t, there are still some basic questions to consider. For instance, you will want to know how much experience he or she has with car accidents similar to yours. Will he or she have the experience necessary to help you win?
After a car accident, one of your first calls should be to a lawyer’s office. When it comes to meeting with a lawyer, most of the discussion will be straightforward. Most lawyers offer free consultations where you can ask questions and decide whether you want to hire him or her. Likewise, it gives the lawyer a chance to assess whether your case is worth it.
