5 Top Tips to Prepare for Your First Meeting with a Brain Injury Lawyer
Once you hire a Connecticut brain Injury lawyer to help you with a brain injury claim, you need to schedule an initial consultation where you have to talk to the lawyer about the situation and find out the next steps for getting compensation. Just as you would prepare for any meeting, you need to prepare for this one. 1. Gather Relevant Documents Your lawyer needs you to provide various documents that prove that you were not at fault for the accident. They use the documents to advise you on whether to proceed with the case or not. Carry with you the following documents: • A copy of the accident report from the police that processed the accident scene • Photos of the site where the accident happened • Photographs of the injuries you sustained. These should be taken at the scene • Medical records from the doctor, therapist, or pharmacy • Medical bills for the hospital, pharmacy, or therapist • Other expenses that relate to the accident include medical treatment, transportation, and modifications to your home or car • Documentation of missed work days from your employer • Any witness statements that you have obtained so far • Documentation showing any communication between you and the insurance companies 2. Have a List of questions to ask the Lawyer If this is your first meeting with the lawyer, you need to have questions to ask him. Note down anything you aren't sure of that you need clarification on. You can ask anything related to the lawyer or the claim. Your questions can touch on the lawyer's experience, the outcomes of the cases they have handled, and the resources he has to make sure the case goes through successfully. Additionally, you will want to know if you have a case or not. The lawyer evaluates the circumstances of the case to determine if you are eligible for compensation or not. 3. Write Down Details of the Case Make sure you have all the details of the case when you get to the meeting. The details need to be in your own words so that the lawyer can interpret them faster. Note down the circumstances that led to the accident, what happened after the accident and what has happened since then. The attorney maintains confidentiality at all times, so don’t leave any detail out. If you were with a family member or a friend at the time of the accident, you could come with them to the meeting. Ask them to write down what they witnessed as well. It is vital because they might remember something that you don't. Coming with a family member also gives you the emotional support you need. Even if you feel a detail is irrelevant, you still need to tell the lawyer and let him decide if it is valuable or not. 4. Be Ready to Answer Questions about the Case You might not be in a position to relive the event due to its traumatic nature, but for the case to proceed, you need to answer questions about the accident. The attorney wants to be familiar with the situation, and he does this via questions that he asks you. Most of the questions determine whether the case can be winnable or not and how much compensation you might get. 5. Prepare to Sign Paperwork Before the case begins, you will sign a contract with the Connecticut brain Injury lawyer. The contract spells out the terms of working with the lawyer, including authorizing him to act on your behalf. You also sign a medical release so that the lawyer can access your medical records whenever they want. The contract also stipulates the percentage payable to the lawyer upon successful resolution of the case.