Questions Your Attorney Should Ask in a Personal Injury Case
Your personal injury attorney will likely ask you some questions during your consultation to understand all the details regarding your case. This is key to offering proper representation. Knowing which questions they’re likely to ask can help you prepare.
What Is the Purpose of Your Visit?
This question can help your attorney determine if they’re the right person for your case and plan a way forward. Tell them if you’ve been involved in a car accident, sustained a work-related injury, been a victim of medical malpractice, or gotten injuries from a product — this can help an attorney specializing in a specific branch of personal injury decide whether to take on your case.
Be as clear as possible, explaining what happened, when and where it happened, and what you were doing before you sustained injuries. Be honest with your personal injury attorney to avoid being blindsided by your insurance company or the party at fault when negotiations begin.
What Injuries Did You Sustain?
This can help your attorney assess damages. Your answer can determine how much compensation your lawyer will seek from the insurance company. Communicate all the relevant details about your injuries. Tell them about your symptoms, medical diagnoses, and whether you’ll need rehabilitation in the future.
Also, let them know about your medical history to help them differentiate current injuries from past ones. Providing your medical history can also help them anticipate challenges that the insurance company may pose during negotiations. You can ask your doctor to talk to your attorney to help paint an accurate picture of your health.
Do You Have Any Evidence That May Help Your Case?
Evidence helps attorneys build solid arguments and cases. Personal injury lawyers rely on a wide range of evidence, including photos, videos, witness statements, and police reports. Give your attorney all the pictures or videos from your accident to help them build their case. If you talked to witnesses after the accident, provide their contact information. This may allow your attorney to collect their statements. This can help corroborate your account and strengthen your case.
Did You Contact the Insurance Company?
It may be better for your case if you don’t talk to an insurance adjuster before your attorney, as they may try to lowball you. If you did speak with your insurance company, let your attorney know to help them anticipate arguments from the insurance adjuster. Tell them about the insurance company’s questions, your answers, and whether you agreed to anything.
What Do Your Finances Look Like?
This can help your attorney determine the financial impact of your accident. Let them know about your medical bills and the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle if you’re involved in an auto accident. If you’ve been unable to work because of your injuries, let them know how long you’ve been out of work and approximate the wages you’ve lost.
How Else Has the Accident Impacted Your Life?
Attorneys can get compensation for non-economic damages like emotional trauma. This means you need to provide details on more than just your financial losses. Let your attorney know if your emotional and mental health has been affected by your accident. If you’ve seen a mental health professional, tell your lawyer about your diagnosis. Allow them to talk to your mental health specialist. This way, they can determine if your therapist can be an expert witness to strengthen your case.
Seek a Qualified Personal Injury Attorney
A personal injury attorney must understand your case to help build a strong argument. Expect your lawyer to ask the questions discussed here as they help paint a picture of your accident and how it’s impacted your life. Start your search for a reputable attorney in your area today.
