First Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer (What You Should Expect)

When you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you may decide to pursue a personal injury claim to recover financial compensation from the party or parties responsible for the accident or be liable for your losses from your injuries. You may also decide to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you pursue your claim. Personal injury attorneys and law firms typically offer free initial consultations with prospective clients, during which the attorney can evaluate the client’s claim and legal options and answer the client’s questions so that both attorney and client can decide if they want to work together. 

Here’s what you can expect to happen at your initial consultation with a personal injury attorney:

Reviewing the Facts of Your Case

A personal injury lawyer will first want to review the facts of your case, so you should try to bring as much information and documentation as possible, including the date, time, and location of the accident, statements from any witnesses or their contact information, copies of any accident incident reports that were written, and copies of medical records from the treatment you’ve received for your accident injuries. The more information you have, the better the attorney will be able to evaluate your case. 

Evaluating the Strength of Your Claim

After reviewing the facts, the lawyer will then advise you as to whether you may have a viable claim for compensation. This includes identifying the party or parties that you may be able to hold responsible for your injuries and losses, as well as potential sources of compensation such as insurance coverage. The lawyer may also identify potential weaknesses of your claim, including whether you may have been partially at fault for the accident or whether pre-existing medical conditions may have contributed to your injuries. 

Determining the Value of Your Claim

An experienced personal injury lawyer may also be able to determine a rough estimate of the value of your claim, based on the expenses you have already incurred as well as the severity of your injuries. Personal injury lawyers who have handled cases involving similar injuries to the ones you have suffered will know what kind of treatment and rehabilitation you may need in the future, how much that will cost, and whether you may be left with permanent impairments that affect your ability to work or your quality of life. 

Getting Questions to Your Answers

Finally, a good personal injury lawyer should also give you the opportunity during an initial consultation to ask questions of the lawyer to help you determine if you want to work with that attorney or firm. Some important questions to ask at an initial consultation include:

• How long have you been practicing law?
• How long have you been handling claims like mine?
• What percentage of your practice is personal injury?
• Have you handled cases similar to mine?
• How often do you take cases to court, and how often do you win at trial?
• Will you or another attorney in the firm be handling my case?
• How frequent will our communication be?
• What will I be expected to do in preparing my case? 

Contact a Hamilton Township Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries because of an accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Hartman Duff, LLC represent clients injured by accidents in Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township, Princeton, and throughout New Jersey. Call 609-853-5579 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 2681 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton Township, NJ 08619.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.