Whether you’re hiring a lawyer for the first time or switching representation mid-case, a productive initial consultation is crucial when working with a personal injury lawyer in Northern New Jersey. Many clients ask us: How do I prepare for my first meeting with a lawyer? When you visit Buttafuoco & Associates for a case review, we want to learn as much as possible about your case so we can find the most effective ways to move it forward if possible.
For our personal injury lawyers to do their best, however, they need information–and the more comprehensive the information, the more they can do. Below is a list of some of the most useful kinds of documentation clients should bring to their first meeting with a personal injury attorney.
Useful Documentation to Bring
Attending an initial consultation can be nerve-wracking for many people. Clients often ask: How do I start a conversation with a lawyer? During an initial legal consultation, the attorney will lead the way with questions, but the best way to facilitate a useful conversation is to bringing sufficient documentation. There are several pieces of documentation you will ideally want to bring to your first consultation. These include:
- Incident Reports: Any documentation related to the incident, such as reports from your employer, law enforcement, witnesses, or any other applicable source, can provide valuable context.
- Medical Records: Bring all relevant medical documents, including bills, physician reports, test results, prognoses, and estimates of future medical costs.
- Employment Records: If applicable, present records detailing medical leave, lost wages, or any other relevant employment-related information.
- Correspondence: Copies of any received correspondence or forms related to the case help establish a comprehensive understanding. This often includes correspondence and statements from insurance companies.
- Evidence of Property Damage: In cases involving property damage, photographic and video evidence can be crucial in assessing the extent of the damage.
- Insurance Information: Provide policy details and any claims information related to insurance, helping us understand the coverage and potential liabilities.
- Timeline of Dates: A well-organized timeline of important dates, including doctor’s visits and treatments, helps create a chronological overview of events.
- Written Narrative: Prepare a written narrative outlining the accident, including all relevant details you can recall.
This documentation can help determine the type of personal injury case (medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, product liability, etc.), while providing our attorneys with insight on how to build a strong case. The sooner our team at Buttafuoco & Associates can make these assessments, the sooner your case will move forward and the stronger it will be.
Useful Questions to Bring
While developing a course of action and reviewing key evidence is of major importance in an initial consultation, you also need to figure out whether the firm is the right fit for your case. Bring questions with you to your consultation to get a sense of how the firm can help. We recommend researching firms ahead of time and asking the following questions during your meeting:
- What are your specialties or practice areas? Be sure to find an attorney with experience in practice areas related to your case. Look for attorneys and firms with success in these practice areas, as there are myriad areas of personal injury law.
- What will be the fee structure? The professional standard is that personal injury attorneys should work on a contingency fee; this means that you only pay attorneys if you win your case. Legal fees are typically built into any award amount, and the most standard split is 30-40%.
- How will we communicate? You need an attorney who’s accessible and there when you need them; in the initial consultation, be sure to discuss how you will communicate, and ask how responsive they are.
Consulting with Buttafuoco & Associates
Our firm has extensive practice experience in a variety of areas, and we will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve. Get in touch by calling 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free legal consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Northern New Jersey.
