You may hire a personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis after an accidental injury caused by someone else’s negligence. An attorney can help you build a claim to secure maximum compensation for all of your losses.
However, you may have many questions about the process of working with a lawyer. Many people wonder what to expect in their first meeting with a personal injury lawyer. Generally, you should expect to discuss your case, answer questions, and review the lawyer’s prices.
You can learn more about this first meeting with our team at Vaughan & Vaughan. Call or fill out our online contact form to get started.
How Long Should You Expect Your First Meeting to Take?
It’s natural to wonder how long you’ll spend talking to your lawyer the first time you meet. Generally, first consultations take around an hour. During this period, your lawyer will ask questions to gather vital information about your case.
If your lawyer needs additional information, they may ask you to send it to their office or set up subsequent appointments to discuss your case in greater detail.
What Questions Should You Expect Your Lawyer to Ask?
Generally, initial consultations with personal injury lawyers involve a lot of questions. You may expect to answer questions about the following:
- When your accident occurred
- What happened to cause your accident
- What injuries you sustained as a result of the accident
- What treatment you require to recover from your injuries
Your lawyer may also ask about your insurance policy and the financial losses caused by your accident. You can expect to answer questions focused on your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Will Your Lawyer Want to Know About Your Other Conversations?
You can expect your lawyer to ask who else you’ve spoken to regarding your claim. Your attorney needs to know if you’ve talked to the insurance company or provided them with a recorded statement.
Your lawyer may also ask if you made any posts on social media and if you had any contact with the individual responsible for your accident. Providing truthful answers to these questions can help your attorney build your claim.
Will Your Lawyer Keep Your Conversation Private?
We understand that you may feel unsure about sharing personal information with someone you barely know. However, lawyers have to follow a strict code of ethics, offering you attorney-client privilege that means they won’t share your conversations.
Our team has handled personal injury claims for over a century, building a reputation for respectfully listening to our clients and earning their trust.
Should You Expect to Provide Proof at Your First Attorney Meeting?
Many personal injury lawyers ask that clients bring proof along with them to their first legal meeting. The proof that you have regarding your claim may vary. You may want to consider bringing along:
- A list of eyewitnesses, including their contact information
- Any documents you received from the insurance company
- Pictures you took of your injuries, property damage, and the accident scene
- Your medical bills and records
- A copy of your police report
- Records of your average wages, lost wages, and missed work
This information can help your lawyer better understand your legal situation and begin preparations for bringing you fair compensation.
Should You Expect Your Lawyer to Immediately Take Your Case?
Many personal injury law firms select the cases they take on carefully. You can expect your lawyer to go over the facts about your case and possible outcomes for your claim based on their past experience.
Sometimes, attorneys offer to take on a case during an initial consultation. However, they may also take some time to decide, contacting you after the appointment to inform you of their decision.
Do You Have to Sign Anything at the First Meeting?
Regardless of the lawyer’s decision, you have no obligation to hire the law firm. You can speak to other attorneys before deciding who you want to represent you in Indianapolis.
Should You Expect to Discuss Pricing for Your Claim?
Your attorney will likely discuss their firm’s pricing strategy with you in an initial consultation, especially if the lawyer agrees to take on your claim. You may receive information about the firm’s billing process, hourly rate, and associated charges.
Our team uses contingency pricing, meaning you only pay us for legal fees if we bring you funds to cover your losses through a settlement or lawsuit. We’ll receive a percentage of your final financial award in this situation.
Set Up Your First Meeting with a Lawyer by Contacting Us Today
What should you expect in your first meeting with a personal injury lawyer? You should expect the attorney to answer your questions, review the evidence related to your claim, and provide you with information about pricing.
You can learn more about these meetings by contacting our team at Vaughan & Vaughan. We’re ready to address all your legal concerns. Call or fill out our online contact form to learn more.
