Most people only speak with an Indianapolis construction accident attorney when they’ve been hurt. You need an ally you can depend on to help you get compensation. But if you’ve never spoken with a lawyer before, what do you need to know?
The first meeting with a construction accident lawyer could make you nervous, but we know how to help you. The initial consultation is an important part of the process. Here’s what you should expect in your first meeting with a construction accident lawyer.
A Mutual Job Interview
A consultation is like a job interview. From your perspective, you want to know if your lawyer can help you get the legal result you want. From your lawyer’s perspective, they want to listen to your story, evaluate your chances of winning, and figure out how they can help you.
Consultations are without obligation. Either side is free to back away before you sign the contract. If you don’t believe your lawyer can get you the result you want, you can find another lawyer to work with. Similarly, if a lawyer believes you don’t have a suitable case, then they can refuse to accept it.
If your construction accident lawyer believes you have a case and they can help you, they’ll offer their services and have you sign a contract. Once you sign it, your lawyer will work for you and will begin to work on your case.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
How Your Lawyer Will Prepare for Your First Meeting
Before your consultation, a law firm will send you a form asking for basic information about you and your case. They may also ask you to bring certain documents. This information helps lawyers pre-screen clients and helps save time during consultations. It can also reveal potential conflicts of interest.
From this information, the lawyer will prepare questions to ask. For a construction accident, they might ask if you’ve followed workers’ compensation procedures by reporting your accident. They’ll want to know your story and what result you want to achieve through the legal process.
Your consultation may be in person, or it may be by phone or by videoconference. You should receive instructions from your lawyer about the consultation time and the method of communication you choose.
Common Questions from Lawyers During Consultations
Lawyers will tailor their questions to what they learn on your intake form, but there are some common questions you’ll get asked during your consultation. These include:
- Confirmation of basic details
- Questions about your situation so they don’t make wrong assumptions
- Whether you’ve worked with a lawyer before
- Whether you’ve worked with a lawyer on this specific situation (e.g., you’re looking for a second opinion)
- Your reasons for pursuing an injury case and how you feel about the situation
- Your desired result and how they can help you
- Walking through the case to get more details
- Your concerns
- Questions about any information or documents they need for your claim
- Questions about your preferred mode of communication
Once they have this information, your lawyer will give you some basic legal advice and assess your chances of success. You’ll get an explanation of the process and what the next steps will be, and you’ll learn when and how your lawyer will get paid. Most construction accident lawyers work on contingency, so you will owe nothing until you win your claim.
Questions You Should Ask
You are always free to ask questions about your lawyer and the legal process so you can feel comfortable about how to proceed with your situation. Here are some questions to ask a construction accident lawyer during a consultation.
- What should I do next in my situation?
- How much do you charge, and do you work on contingency?
- What’s the overall process and timeline for a case like mine? What stages can I expect?
- How can I communicate with you about my case, and how often is reasonable?
- Have you had cases similar to mine, and were you successful?
Good lawyers will let you do most of the talking and prompt you with questions as needed to get the information they need. Once they know they can help you, they’ll reveal how they will approach your case and how you can start.
Managing Expectations
Another thing to expect in your first meeting with a construction accident lawyer is the lawyer’s honest assessment of your chances. Managing expectations is a big part of consultations. You may have a weak case, and your lawyer will say so.
A construction accident lawyer will work to get you the most money possible. If you ask how much your case is worth on average, you may get a rough estimate based on past similar cases. However, every case is unique, and the range of awards can go from millions to nothing.
You may have an idea of how much you need to settle your case, but if your desired amount is out of alignment with what’s possible, we’ll explain why.
Consulting with Vaughan & Vaughan
When you consult with a construction accident lawyer in your first meeting, you should expect to learn about your legal situation, what your next steps should be, and how your case will proceed if you hire a lawyer. By the end, you should feel confident in your lawyer’s advice.
If you’ve been in a construction accident and need to speak with a lawyer, contact Vaughan & Vaughan for a free consultation.
