What to Expect at the Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were injured in an accident caused by another’s negligence, it may be beneficial to retain the services of a legal professional. You may be able to pursue compensation related to your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. Victims who have never met with a personal injury lawyer may not know what to expect and how having legal help may increase their chances at a favorable outcome.

Meeting with a lawyer will allow you to discuss your situation in detail and learn about your potential legal options. You will also become familiar with how the legal process works. Our firm offers free consultations and is ready to help. During this initial consultation, the lawyer will focus on these areas:

Case Assessment

The most important part of the initial consultation is a case assessment where the lawyer will determine if you have a valid claim. He or she will need to weigh in several factors unique to your situation to make a determination. This includes asking you about the type of accident you were in, the injuries you sustained, whether someone witnessed the incident, etc. It is important to be honest and open during this process so that the personal injury lawyer can give you accurate feedback on your legal options.

Documents to Bring

At the consultation, the lawyer will ask you for a great deal of information, so be sure to gather as much documentation as you can as it relates to the accident and your injury. These documents may include:

• Copy of the police/accident report
• Photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and damage to property
• Contact details from anyone who witnessed the accident
• Contact details and insurance information from the other party
• Details regarding any medical care and treatment you have received
• Contact details from any insurance company or agent you talked to
• Your own insurance information, including coverage and policy limits
• Dates you were unable to work to recover from your injuries

Explanation of the Legal Process

The personal injury lawyer will also offer insight into filing a claim with the insurance company. If you are eligible to take legal action, he or she will guide you throughout the legal process, step-by-step, to help you better understand everything that is involved. This may involve doing the following on your behalf:

• Investigating the validity of your claim
• Reviewing medical records to assess the extent of your injury
• Calculating the value of your damages
• Preparing a demand letter for compensation
• Negotiating with the insurance company to obtain a fair settlement
• Filing a lawsuit if a settlement amount cannot be reached
• Going through the discovery process, gathering additional evidence about the case from the other party and proving responses to questions asked by the other party
• Going through mediation to settle the case before trial
• Going to trial, if it becomes absolutely necessary

Your lawyer will be able to give you a general timeline on how long this process can take depending on your situation.

Ability to Ask Questions

When you sit down for a consultation with a lawyer, do not be scared to ask questions. This is your time to learn about your potential legal options. Some questions you may want to be ready to ask include:

• How many personal injury cases have you personally handled?
• How many cases have you handled that are similar to mine?
• How long have you been a personal injury lawyer?
• Do you foresee any issues or challenges handling my case?
• What is the best way to get in touch with you?
• How much do you charge for your services?
• How long will the entire legal process take?
• What is the value of my case?

Learn More About Your Options

If you have a valid claim, our Maryland personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl are prepared to help. We know what it takes to build a strong case and seek maximum compensation for our clients. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for Maryland residents.

We offer our consultations free of charge and there are no risks or obligations to take legal action. If we do represent you, we also do not charge upfront fees. You only pay us if you obtain compensation.

Give us a call at 410-244-7005 to see how we may be able to help.