If you or a loved one find yourselves affected by a serious injury for the first time, it’s very natural to wonder what to do next. Seeking a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer to determine if you have a potential case on your hands should be your first step.
Free consultations cost nothing but time and provide you with vital insight into the legal merits of your potential claim. This article will discuss what you can expect from your free consultation and what you need to do to prepare for it.
What Does a Free Legal Consultation Generally Involve?
Generally, the purpose of a legal consultation after an accident is to see if you could reasonably expect to win your potential personal injury claim and determine if you and the firm in question want to work together on your potential case. Here are some topics you should discuss during your free consultation.
Discuss Fees & Expenses
Naturally, one of the most critical pieces of information to clarify is how much the attorney expects to be paid for their work on your behalf. Always ask about relevant fees before signing anything, and be skeptical of any lawyer who dodges questions or dissimilates when asked about expenses. In Illinois, most personal injury firms will front the cost of the litigation and will not charge you anything unless and until they win your case. Most plaintiffs’ firms charge a 33.33% attorney’s fee, which is based on the total value of your settlement or verdict. The plaintiffs’ firm is also entitled to be reimbursed for their cases expenses incurred from the litigation.
Evaluating the Potential of Your Case
One of the primary purposes of a legal consultation is to consider the facts of the situation and decide whether or not your case would likely hold up in court. This will typically involve discussing the exact events that led to the injury, the considerations in determining the reasonable monetary value of your damages, and all relevant evidence. After reviewing your case and the details, your lawyer will be able to advise you as to whether your case viable on the merits and whether or not you should take legal action.
Get Basic Information and Advice
You likely have many questions if you’re new to the legal process around personal injury claims. You may wonder about things like clarifying who is liable in a given situation, how long the litigation might take, or just the basics around the process of going to court. An initial consultation with a lawyer is a great place to seek answers to these questions and receive advice on proceeding with legal action.
Evaluate a Potential Lawyer
Maybe you’re already familiar with many of the basic legal details involved in personal injury cases. A free consultation with a lawyer is an excellent opportunity to evaluate them and learn more about their personality, credentials, professionalism, etc. You need someone you can rely on and work with to succeed in court.
How Should You Prepare for Your Consultation?
There’s some prep work you should do before meeting a lawyer to get the most out of your consultation.
Familiarize Yourself With the Basic Facts of Your Case
To be fully informed and give you the best advice, a lawyer needs to know every detail about what happened during the accident. When you walk into their office, you should be prepared to give a clear, correct, and concise answer to questions like:
- “Was a police report filed?”
- “Describe all the injuries you sustained?”
- “Have you filed an insurance claim?”
- “Were there any witnesses? Do you have their contact information?”
Gather Relevant Data & Evidence
You should bring along all relevant evidence or data you may have about the incident. You want to create a paper trail to provide evidence supporting your side of the story and help your lawyer better understand and build your case. Some examples of essential documents you might bring include:
- Police reports & notes (if any)
- Photos of the accident site and/or your injuries
- Receipts for any medical bills or similar expenses
- Pay stubs or income statements if you are suing for lost wages
- Medical reports
- Communication between you and your health insurance
This is not an exhaustive list. Bring any document you feel might be related to your case or provides more information on your injuries and how you sustained them.
Research the Lawyer & Prepare Questions
Avoid wasting time with seedy or under-par lawyers by researching different firms in advance. Look up reviews on sites like Google or Yelp, browse the firm’s website, and see what results they’ve gotten in past cases.
You want to find a lawyer you can trust and one that will work tirelessly to ensure you receive full justice. You can’t gauge a lawyer’s personality until you actually meet them, but you can eliminate a lot of inferior options with a bit of leg work.
Take the Next Step in Your Case With the Expert Legal Team at Pullano & Siporin
A free consultation is more than just an introduction to the services provided by a law firm. It’s an opportunity to gain valuable insights, understand your legal options, and start down a path toward resolving your case.
At Pullano & Siporin, we’ve got over 70 years of collective experience in a wide range of areas within personal injury law. When you choose Pullano & Siporin, you are choosing a law firm you can trust, and one that will not rest until you are fully compensated for your injuries and recieve full justice.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today for a free consultation.
