As if being involved in an auto accident weren’t traumatic enough! Trying to negotiate all the claims and paperwork after a crash can sometimes feel like a different type of wreck. Instead of suffering all over again, consider scheduling a free consultation with an auto accident attorney.
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Meeting with an auto accident attorney can help you determine if you’re being offered fair compensation from the insurance company. An auto accident attorney has access to settlement records from comparable cases, so you don’t settle for less than you deserve. Also, local traffic and insurance laws vary, and an auto accident attorney can help you understand protocol in your area. Plus, hiring an auto accident attorney shows the insurance company you mean business.
The good news is that all LegalASAP auto accident attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means you won’t owe them any money until you have a settlement. Plus, most insurers settle for 54% of car accident costs, but claimants with attorneys almost always get more than that. So, basically, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by at least meeting with an auto accident attorney. With that in mind, here’s what you should know heading into a consultation.
What Should You Bring to Your Consultation with an Auto Accident Attorney?
The more prepared you are for your consultation, the better your potential auto accident attorney can assess your case. There are certain documents and details that will be necessary for an auto accident attorney to fully understand what happened.
Prior to your first meeting, gather up the following information/documents and bring as many as possible with you:
- A copy of your accident report, or at least the Case ID or police report number
- The police department that investigated your accident
- A copy of your current car insurance, your driver’s license, and contact info
- The other driver’s car insurance policy, driver’s license number, and contact info
- License plate numbers for all cars involved in the accident
- Any photos you have of the cars and the crash scene
- A copy of your vehicle’s title (if it’s totaled)
- Vehicle repair costs and estimates (if the car is salvageable)
- Any insurance company correspondence you have regarding your accident
- Medical evidence of any injuries including hospital bills, x-rays, ambulance charges, physical therapy reports, prescriptions, etc.
- Receipts for any related out-of-pocket expenses like tow trucks, taxi/Uber/Lyft rides, and replacements for damaged personal items
- Your employer’s information and a paystub/direct deposit record (to determine potential lost wages if you missed work)
- Any insurance company correspondence you have regarding your accident
- Contact info and copies of written statements from anyone involved in your accident including witnesses, EMTs, car passengers, etc.
- Anything else you think might be relevant to your case!
10 Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer
Transparency is important at this stage. If you’re totally honest about the details of your case, then your auto accident attorney can reciprocate. All the nitty gritty will eventually come out anyway, so it’s better to be up-front from the start. That way you can truly determine if this attorney is right for you and vice-versa.
That said, your matched auto accident attorney will also want to ask you some questions. Be prepared to answer the following at your consultation:
- When and where did your accident occur?
- Who was involved in the accident?
- What is your understanding of what happened?
- Was anyone deemed to be at fault?
- What damages and injuries did all parties sustain, to the best of your knowledge?
- Did you require medical attention at the scene or at the hospital?
- Have you experienced physical/mental impairments since the accident?
- Did you have to miss work for any period of time because of the accident? If so, when and for how long?
- What details did you give to your insurance company?
- Who else have you spoken to about the accident and what did you share?
What Should You Ask Your Potential Auto Accident Attorney?
Remember, you’re also using this time to determine if this lawyer’s a good fit for your case. So, it helps to know what questions you want to ask as well!
Here are some things you might wish to find out before signing on the dotted line:
- How many auto accident cases have you personally represented?
- What’s your typical payment agreement for a case like mine?
- If you work on contingency, what percentage of the settlement do you usually request?
- Do you think my case would likely settle out of court, or go to trial?
- If it goes to court, do you have expert witnesses ready to testify to help my case?
- What issues do you think I should be aware of that might impede a positive outcome?
- What should I say if my — or the other driver’s — insurance contacts me directly?
- How long do you anticipate it might take to resolve my claim?
Finally, you are under no obligation to ultimately work with an auto accident attorney you engage for a consultation. Just keep in mind that you are more likely to see a bigger settlement anytime you get legal representation in your corner. So, there is no harm in meeting with a lawyer and weighing your options!
Ready to see if you may qualify? Complete your free online auto accident case evaluation now!
Kimberly Dawn Neumann
Kimberly Dawn Neumann is a multi-published NYC-based magazine and book writer whose work has appeared in a wide variety of publications ranging from Forbes to Cosmopolitan. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, College of Journalism. For more, visit: www.KDNeumann.com, Instagram @dancerscribe, and Twitter @KimberlyNeumann
