What should I bring when meeting with my lawyer for the first time?
- Preliminary Matters
- What to do at the scene of an accident?
- What to do after an accident?
- Should I contact police after a car accident?
- How long do I have to report a car accident?
- Should I go to the doctors after a car accident?
- What is a personal injury claim?
- What is liability?
- What do I have to prove to establish negligence?
- The insurance company asked me to sign a records release form. Should I sign it?
- What factors will the insurance company consider when evaluating my claim and formulating an offer?
- How long will my personal injury case take?
- Value of Your Case
- How much is a personal injury case worth?
- I have been in an accident but is it worth pursuing?
- How the lawyer evaluates your case?
- What are factors that insurance companies consider while evaluating injury claims?
- How do you determine the value of my claim?
- What damages am I entitled to recover?
- Are there limits on what expenses I can claim as damages in a personal injury case?
- You and Your injury Lawyer
- Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
- Why is it important to talk to a lawyer after an accident?
- When should I contact a lawyer?
- I don’t want to go to court; can a lawyer still help me?
- What kind of accidents do our lawyers handle?
- Is my case big enough for a lawyer to handle?
- Will I have to pay a fee for my lawyer to handle my case?
- How much does a personal injury lawsuit cost?
- How can I help my lawyer to achieve the best outcome in my case?
- What should I bring when meeting with my lawyer for the first time?
- How much contact will I have with my injury lawyer?
- Settlement and Litigation
- How much time do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit?
- How is a personal injury case initiated?
- What happens after a lawsuit is filed?
- What are the different stages of a personal injury case?
- What defences might I have to overcome to win my case?
- What is an examination for discovery?
- What questions will be asked during my examination for discovery?
- What are the elements of a negligence case?
- What is assumption of risk?
- What is a mediation?
Although every case is unique, the following items will almost always be helpful to your lawyer.
- Government issued ID (such as a drivers license);
- Medicare Card
- Private Medical Insurance Coverage (eg. Blue Cross)
- Police Accident Card
- Motor Vehicle Accident Report
- Medical Records
- Insurance Companies Contact information
- Correspondence from Insurance Companies
- List of Doctors and Other Health Care Providers
- Photos of Accident Scene and vehicles
- Photos of Injuries
- Employment Information (pay-stub)
- Witness Statements
- List of Potential Witnesses
- Receipts for out of pocket expenses.
Try to provide as many of the above items as possible during your initial meeting with your lawyer. If you have time, organize everything together into a folder or file. This will save your lawyer a great deal of time and help expedite the information-gathering process.
Be Prepared To Fill Out Paperwork.
When a personal injury lawyer decides to take your case, one of the most important things that will happen is the collection of important documents such as:
A. Contingency Fee Agreement
A contingency fee is a type of fee arrangement commonly used in the legal industry, particularly in personal injury and some other civil cases. In this arrangement, a lawyer or law firm agrees to represent a client and handle their case without charging any upfront fees. Instead, the lawyer’s fees are contingent upon the outcome of the case – specifically, whether the client wins or receives a favorable settlement.
Here’s how a contingency fee works:
No Upfront Costs: The client doesn’t need to pay the legal fees at the beginning of the case.
Outcome-Based Payment: If the case is successful and the client receives compensation (either through a settlement or a court judgment), the lawyer’s fees are calculated as a percentage of the amount recovered. This percentage is agreed upon between the client and the lawyer before the representation begins. CLG Injury Law charges a contingency fee of 25%.
If You Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay: If the case is not successful and the client doesn’t receive any compensation, the lawyer typically doesn’t receive any fees. This aspect of the arrangement aligns the lawyer’s interests with the client’s, as the lawyer only gets paid if the client gets compensated.
B. Authorization And Release Forms.
In the context of a personal injury law, an authorization and release form are used to obtain the necessary permissions from clients to initiate legal actions, gather evidence, communicate with relevant parties, and represent the client’s interests in a personal injury case. This is particularly important in personal injury cases where sensitive medical information, accident reports, insurance documents, and other relevant information need to be obtained to build a strong case.
Authorization and release forms are essential for establishing clear consent and legal boundaries when handling sensitive information or representing someone’s interests. They help protect both parties by ensuring that actions are taken with proper consent and by outlining the limits of liability.
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