- March 27, 2024
When you need to hire a Greenville personal injury attorney to help you win compensation, the first thing you do is perform a Google search. After some vetting, you decide to schedule an initial consultation with a lawyer. Now what?
How exactly do you prepare for the appointment? Should you sign a retainer agreement immediately after the meeting? These are valid questions and this blog will provide the answers you need.
Here is what you have to do before hiring a personal injury lawyer:
1. Prepare the Presentation of Your Case
Some people can speak freely without missing a single detail and without confusing the storyline. Others are not confident enough to tell someone they’ve just met about their incident, especially if it was a severe one, causing painful injuries and trauma.
For this reason, you should prepare a written statement detailing what happened to you, with as much detail as possible. As you make this written presentation, you may also remember specific facts or elements, which may turn out to be extremely important for winning your case.
2. Let Your Doctor Know You Intend to Hire an Attorney
After you retain a personal injury lawyer, one of the first things they will need to do is talk to the doctor who treated you. However, under HIPAA rules, healthcare professionals are not allowed to disclose any details about your conditions and treatments without your agreement.
By informing your doctor ahead of time that you will hire an attorney, they can provide you with the necessary paperwork for granting the lawyer’s access to your medical files. Also, the doctor will start preparing all your medical records to provide them to the legal professional in a timely manner.
3. Organize the Evidence You Have
During the initial meeting, a lawyer will need to examine any evidence you have, such as:
- The police report (if you were involved in a car accident)
- Photos and videos of the crash scene
- Eyewitness testimonies
- Any medical reports and diagnostic tests you have
- Any other physical evidence or supporting statement that confirms your story
All these are necessary to determine if you have a valid case. Since South Carolina is a modified comparative negligence state for personal injury matters, you have to be less than 51% at fault to be eligible to file a claim.
Determining fault is extremely complex, so you should consult with a Greenville personal injury attorney to find out if your claim is valid.
4. Prepare a List of Questions for the Lawyer
The free case evaluation that personal injury attorneys offer to new clients serves a double purpose. The lawyer may determine if you have a case. And you can find out if the legal professional is a good fit for your case.
Here are some of the most common questions you should ask during the initial appointment:
- How many years have you practiced personal injury law?
- Do you specialize in other practice areas?
- What is your success rate?
- Can you give me examples of cases similar to mine that you’ve won?
- How much do you charge?
These are fair and legitimate questions, which a reputable attorney will have no problems answering openly.
5. Prepare to Answer Questions, As Well
Besides examining the evidence, the lawyer will also want to ask you several questions. They will focus mostly on the circumstances of the accident and your injuries. Some of these questions may appear inquisitive, but they are necessary.
Since most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, they need to make sure that there are real chances of winning the case. Also, knowing the truth is good for you, as it will prevent you from engaging in further actions which cost time and money and are to no avail.
Talk to an Experienced Greenville Personal Injury Attorney about Your Case!
If you believe that you are entitled to compensation after being injured by someone’s negligent actions, the best option is to schedule a free case evaluation with a Greenville personal injury attorney.
At the end of the meeting, the lawyer will form a reliable opinion on the merits of your claim. If you have a valid case, the attorney will represent you on a contingency fee basis – no fees until they win your settlement.
Call us today to schedule an appointment at 864-310-7897!
