Chris Hammons | May 17, 2024 | Personal Injury
If you have been injured in an accident and believe someone else was responsible, you may have a personal injury case. A personal injury consultation can help you understand your legal options and whether you have a valid claim. Most personal injury lawyers in Oklahoma City offer free consultations to review your case and provide legal advice.
Before consulting attorneys, make sure you understand what to expect during the initial consultation. Here are nine things to know before you meet with a lawyer to get the most out of your free consultation.
1. You Will Need To Give an Honest, Detailed Account of Your Accident
Most of your consultation will involve telling the attorney your story in as much detail as possible. Explain what happened, including as many details as possible. Avoid leaving out details you think make you look bad; the lawyer’s job is to give you an honest assessment and, if hired, represent you. Remember that confidentiality applies even during a free consultation with an accident lawyer.
While you explain your story, the lawyer may interject with questions to make sure they understand what happened.
2. Bring Documents And Notes To Your Free Lawyer Consultation
Prepare for your consultation by gathering any relevant documents, evidence, and communications related to your case. The lawyer may review your document to understand your case’s circumstances better and give you the most accurate assessment.
Examples of documentation to bring include:
- Photos of your injuries and the scene of the accident
- Accident or police reports
- Medical records, including discharge instructions, bills, a list of prescriptions, test results, and documentation of treatments
- Citations or tickets
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
- A copy of your insurance policy
- Communication from an insurance company
It’s also helpful to create a written summary of your accident. Include a timeline and as many details as you can remember. This can be useful during your consultation to stay on track and make sure you don’t forget anything. It’s also helpful going forward to have this written record before the details become fuzzy.
3. Be Prepared To Ask Questions During Your Personal Injury Consultation
It’s helpful to prepare a list of questions you want to ask before your consultation. This will help you understand the lawyer’s experience, approach to similar cases, and assessment of your case.
Questions you may want to ask include:
- How many similar cases have you handled?
- Will you be the attorney handling my case?
- What is your trial experience?
- What do you think is the likely outcome of my case?
- How will you keep me updated about my case?
- How long do you expect it to take to resolve my case?
- Can I improve the chance of a good outcome?
- How are legal fees handled?
These questions can give you valuable insight so you can make an informed decision about your case.
4. A Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer Is an Interview
Remember, this consultation is not just for the lawyer to learn about your case but also for you to evaluate them. You can think of the consultation as an interview to find an attorney you are comfortable representing you.
Pay attention to how they communicate and whether they show genuine concern for your situation. Ask questions about the strength of your case, weaknesses, and how they would approach it. Remember that communication is a critical skill for a lawyer, whether they are negotiating or presenting a case to a jury. They should be able to clearly explain their analysis.
5. The Lawyer Will Review Your Case and Discuss Possible Outcomes
After listening to your story, the lawyer will help you understand the overall strength of your case and discuss weaknesses and strengths. This is a good opportunity to learn if there are any steps you can take to strengthen your case or overcome weaknesses.
A seasoned lawyer can also explain potential outcomes based on their experience. While they can’t guarantee a particular outcome, they can give you an honest and personal assessment of what they believe is most likely to happen. This can help you understand what to expect moving forward.
6. Make Sure You Understand the Fee Arrangement
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. Ensure you understand how attorneys’ fees and other legal costs work, including any potential costs you might incur and how they are paid.
Understanding their fee structure upfront helps you make an informed decision. Even though contingency fees are common, lawyers have different arrangements. Their fee may change depending on whether your case is resolved through a settlement before or after a lawsuit is filed, for example.
7. You Have a Limited Amount of Time During Your Free Consultation
Free consultations are typically brief, lasting just 30 to 60 minutes. Make the most of this time by staying focused on the most pertinent details of your case and important questions.
Before your consultation, consider your most important concerns. This is why it’s a good idea to be prepared with a list of questions and a summary of your accident.
8. Ask About Deadlines That Apply To Your Case
It’s a good idea to discuss the legal deadlines that apply to your case during your consultation. There will be a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In Oklahoma, most personal injury cases have a two-year statute of limitations from the date of an injury. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your right to sue for damages.
9. Injury Lawyers Do Not Accept Every Case
Finally, keep in mind the lawyer may ultimately decline to accept your case after the consultation. Lawyers often select cases they believe have a strong chance of success.
They may decide not to take your case for many reasons, such as:
- A conflict of interest
- Insufficient evidence to establish liability
- The value of your case does not justify hiring an attorney
- The lawyer doesn’t accept your type of case
- The statute of limitations has expired
- The attorney’s caseload is too high
If a lawyer decides not to take your case, don’t be discouraged. Seek a second opinion if you believe your case has merit.
Contact an OKC Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A quick search for “personal injury lawyer near me free consultation” will turn up plenty of law firms to contact, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed about where to start. If you’re ready to speak with an attorney about your accident, make sure you’re prepared and know what to expect. You can speak with several lawyers, but make sure you do your homework before making your list. Look for lawyers with extensive experience handling similar cases and a good reputation.
If you have been injured in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and believe someone else was at fault, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help. Contact an experienced Personal Injury lawyer at Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free consultation with an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney. They will help you explore your legal options and the next steps to take.
We proudly serve Oklahoma County, OK and its surrounding areas:
Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers – OKC
1332 SW 89th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 497-0480