Accidents are unpredictable and can sometimes be so fatal that it can affect your whole life. You do not just suffer physically, but the huge pile of medical bills takes every inch of your savings. In such cases when you know that the accident was someone else’s fault, you must consult a personal injury attorney right away. Being a plaintiff, if you want to begin a lawsuit against the defendant then initially, you must file a complaint where you will demand the compensation for the damages that have occurred to you because of the defendant.
All the personal injury cases are different and that is why it is always suggested to consult a personal injury attorney in order to know how to proceed with the case. It is also important for you to know the basic rights in accident cases and how such legal issues can impact your rights. Since the law changes from state to state, your attorney must be able to help you out with your type of case with his expertise.
So, if you have recently met with an accident and looking for a personal injury attorney, here’s a step by step guide on how you can consult the apt attorney.
#1 Research and references
In these critical cases, you just cannot make a decision right away. For instance, if you have met with a car accident, then you must find an attorney who has expertise in car cases. Therefore, do your research, search on the internet, and ask your friends and family if they know any personal injury attorney who specializes in car accident cases. Ask them about their experience working with that attorney. Once you get the references, you can visit their website and read about their work.
#2 Shortlisting
Once you have a list of personal injury attorneys, it is time for you to shortlist three to four so that you can reach your final decision. Look for their work apart from the cases in society. See if they have any published articles on renowned platforms like the National Lawyers Guild to name a few. Through their such type of work, you will be able to know about their reputation. Once you research all of it, shortlist the personal injury attorneys and be ready to take the next steps.
#3 Scheduling interview
Once you know where to go, pick up that phone and call up to make the appointment with the shortlisted personal injury attorneys. Usually, the attorneys provide a free consultation during the first meeting, so you do not have to worry about the expenses.
#4 Collecting the evidence
Before you pay your first visit to the attorney, it is important to collect all the evidence where the accident took place. This evidence could be helpful in determining whose fault it was during the accident. If possible, take the pictures of the accident scene and make sure to document everything that you remember during that accident. This will really help the attorney to understand your case. If you have any witnesses, get their contact details and names.
#5 File complaint and get police report copy
You cannot visit the attorney empty-handed; therefore, the homework is necessary. Make a police complaint right after you have met with an accident and collect the copy for yourself so that you can present it to the attorney during your first meet. With such reports, the date, time, location, and other things get specified that took place during the accident.
#6 Consult personal injury attorney
Once you have everything with you, it is time to pay the visit to the attorney. The attorney will help you understand your rights and case. Tell everything that happened during the accident and make sure to clear out how much claim you are expecting since you have suffered huge monetary losses. Your attorney will help you out with the insurance, medical reports, negotiation with the defendant party, and representing on your behalf in the court.
It is advisable in cases on accidents to immediately seek legal help. This one-stop guide will help you make your decision on consulting personal injury attorney.