Suffering from any type of injury is never easy. Finding a qualified attorney to represent you during this difficult time can help make the process easier. It’s important to remember that under the statute of limitations in Tennessee you only have one year from the time of an injury to file a lawsuit. The following discusses what you should expect during your consultation visit with a personal injury lawyer.
1. Meet Face to Face With the Attorney
An initial consultation usually involves meeting the attorney face to face. During this time you’ll tell the attorney your story regarding exactly what happened in your particular case. It’s important to tell the attorney everything no matter how insignificant it may seem. Tennessee courts often decide that “shared fault” has occurred during an accident, meaning that the injured party is partially to blame. This can affect the amount of the settlement, making it crucial to tell the attorney exactly what happened.
2. Discuss Fees
The costs involved are normally discussed during the consultation visit. Some attorney’s will only charge a fee if they win your case. Others may require a fee upfront. How much the attorney ultimately gets paid is often contingent upon how much the settlement in your case would be. Some lawyers may take a percentage of whatever the final settlement would come out to be. Exactly how the payment process works should be explained clearly during this visit.
3. Bring All Documents
The attorney will want as much information as possible to be able to adequately evaluate your case. This means bringing all the paperwork in regards to your case. This would include everything from any police reports, statements from witnesses, and medical bills. The attorney will likely want to know about any insurance coverage you may have. You’ll want to bring documents concerning your insurance provider and the type of coverage you have.
4. Bring a List of Questions
Any questions that you would have regarding your case should be asked during this visit. A personal injury lawyer will expect you to have a lot of questions about how the legal process would work. It’s recommended to write out your questions before coming in for the consultation. It’s often easy to forget or not think of important questions to ask during the visit. A busy personal injury attorney may be difficult to contact after the consultation is over.
5. There May Be Forms to Sign
The attorney may ask you to sign a variety of forms authorizing the release of medical records. The attorney will want to be able to obtain all of your medical records on your behalf. He or she may also want copies of other legal forms, such as police reports. If your case involves your employer you will need to sign authorization for the attorney to receive records from your place of employment.
These are general things to expect when meeting with an attorney during a consultation visit. If the attorney decides to take your case, he or she will likely give you an overview of what steps will be taken next in regards to your representation.
