9 Things You Should Know About a Free Personal Injury Lawyer Consultation
David Muñoz | March 23, 2022 | Personal Injury
Most injury lawyers offer a free consultation to prospective clients. This allows you to discuss your case with injury lawyers without any obligation to hire them.
If you use your free consultations efficiently and effectively, they can provide important information to you about your case and the lawyer. This will guide your decisions about how to proceed with your injury claim.
Here are nine things to keep in mind about free lawyer consultations.
What Happens During a Free Consultation?
When you schedule a free consultation, the receptionist will tell you how long your meeting will last. Be respectful of the lawyer’s time and come prepared. If you use your time efficiently, you can address all of the topics you need to cover.
During the consultation, you will explain your accident and your injuries. You will also describe how your injuries have affected your work and personal life.
The lawyer will assess your case, including your chances of success. The lawyer will also outline possible legal strategies to optimize the compensation you recover.
Here are nine things to keep in mind as you discuss your case with your lawyer:
1. Be Honest
An open, honest, and frank discussion with your lawyer will produce the best legal advice. A lawyer can only advise you about facts you disclose. If you withhold anything from the lawyer, you might not get the best legal advice.
Attorney-client confidentiality covers the discussions you have during an initial consultation. This means the lawyer cannot disclose or use anything you discuss during the consultation.
2. Bring Documents
The lawyer can provide much more detailed advice if you bring documents as evidence with you. Some documents that may assist the lawyer in assessing your case include:
- Medical records
- Car accident reports
- Photos of the accident scene
- A witness list
These documents will also help the lawyer start immediately on your case if you decide to hire them.
3. Ask About Deadlines
California imposes a statute of limitations on all causes of action. For personal injury claims, you must file a lawsuit within two years of the injury.
Additionally, some cases might have a shorter time frame in which to start your claim. For example, if you were injured in an accident involving public transportation, your deadline might expire in a matter of months, rather than years.
4. Talk About Fees
Many of the most common disputes between clients and lawyers involve fees. To avoid any misunderstanding about how much you will pay for the lawyer’s services, discuss fees during the free consultation.
Most injury lawyers charge a contingency fee. Make sure you fully understand how contingency fees work by asking questions about how much you will pay.
5. Set Expectations About Communication
Another common dispute between lawyers and clients involves communication. Lawyers must respond to reasonable requests for information about cases and keep clients informed about a case’s status.
At the same time, lawyers can get busy. Let the lawyer know your expectation about updates and ask if you can speak to others in the firm when you cannot reach the lawyer directly.
6. Discuss the Lawyer’s Experience
Many of a lawyer’s skills come through experience. Handling similar cases gives lawyers insight into insurance company practices, court procedures, and relevant case law.
Ask the lawyer about similar cases they have handled. If they have not successfully resolved a similar case, consider talking to another lawyer.
7. Find Out the Range of Outcomes to Expect
The free consultation is your chance to get a preliminary evaluation of your case. Most lawyers will not give you an exact number. But an experienced lawyer can help you set your expectations by giving you a range of outcomes you might see.
8. Talk About Timeframes
Many factors surrounding timing will fall outside your control. But a lawyer might help you narrow down how long the insurance company will take to resolve your case.
9. Ask How You Can Help
Your case will require your involvement. Before you leave your consultation, make sure that you ask the lawyer about the assistance you will be expected to provide.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in San Diego Today To Get More Information
If you’ve been injured in San Diego, please call Mission Personal Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney or contact us online.
We proudly serve San Diego County and throughout California.
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers
2515 Camino del Rio S Suite 350, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 777-5555
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers – Chula Vista Office
690 Otay Lakes Rd #130, Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 722-3032
We also serve the state of Texas. Contact our personal injury law office in El Paso for legal assistance today.
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers – El Paso Office
201 E Main Suite 106, El Paso, Texas 79901
(915) 591-1000
