Every year, more than 100,000 pedestrians go to the emergency room to receive treatment for collisions and other accidents.
Have you recently suffered a pedestrian injury? Are you having a hard time getting the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver’s insurance company?
If this is the case, you’re probably getting ready to meet with a pedestrian accident lawyer and find out what you can do to get a fair settlement.
As you’re preparing for your meeting, keep these five tips in mind. They’ll help you get the most out of your visit and feel confident moving forward with your case.
1. Write Down Your Questions
Before you meet with your lawyer (or the lawyer you’re considering hiring), it’s a good idea to write down all of your questions. By doing this, it’ll be easier for you to keep the conversation going and ensure all of your questions get answered.
You should also write down the basic information regarding your case. This will help you avoid forgetting any important details that your lawyer may need to know. It’ll also help you get more clarity on the situation and feel more confident confiding in the lawyer.
2. Gather Relevant Documents
Be sure to gather all documents that might be relevant to your case.
This includes your medical records and medical bills, as well as the accident report you filled out after the accident happened. You may also want to bring any other forms of evidence that might be beneficial, such as pictures of your injuries or the scene of the accident.
It’s better to err on the side of having too much than not enough, so bring everything, even if it doesn’t seem of particular importance to you. You never know what your lawyer might find useful.
3. Make Copies of Everything
Make copies of all your medical records, bills, and other important documents. That way, you can leave copies with your lawyer while still holding onto the originals.
If your lawyer has copies of these documents, they’ll be able to study them more closely and learn more about your case. This saves you from feeling like you have to cover everything in excruciating detail when you only have a limited amount of time with your lawyer.
4. Bring Someone for Moral Support
You can bring someone along for moral support during your first meeting with your lawyer. If you’re feeling nervous or unsure of yourself, having a friend or family member there with you can help to put you at ease.
Remember, though, that your attorney-client privilege is lost when someone else attends the meeting. They might even be subpoenaed by the other party to testify against you.
If you want to avoid this but still want the extra support, bring your friend or loved one along and ask them to wait in the lobby until your appointment is over.
5. Set Clear Goals
Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to get out of your meeting. This is especially important if your first meeting is a brief consultation and you won’t have a lot of time to talk.
Do you want to get a feel for this lawyer and see if they’re a good fit for you? Do you want to know what the expected outcome is for your case?
Setting clear goals for the meeting helps you get the information you need and helps you and the lawyer avoid wasting time.
Tips for Finding a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
As you prepare for your first meeting with a pedestrian accident lawyer, these five tips will come in very handy. What if you’re still trying to find the right lawyer for the job, though?
Sitting down with them for a consultation is a good way to determine whether or not they’re a good fit for you. However, there are also other steps you can take to narrow down your choices before the meeting.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind if you’re having a hard time choosing the right lawyer for your needs:
Consider Their Experience
Before you put a specific lawyer on your list of candidates, do some research to learn about their education and experience.
Where did they go to school? How long have they been practicing?
Finding the answers to these questions will give you a better idea of whether or not they’re a good fit for you.
Ask About Past Case Outcomes
When you sit down with a lawyer or talk to them on the phone, be sure to ask about the outcomes of past cases that are similar to yours.
Do they think your case will have a similar outcome? What’s the best- and worst-case scenario for your situation?
Find Out Who Will Work on Your Case
The lawyer you meet during your first consultation isn’t always the lawyer who will handle your case. Be sure to ask who, specifically, will be handling things and ask to meet them before making any final decisions.
Ask for a Timeline
Find out what the anticipated timeline is for your case, too. This will be a mere estimate, of course, but it’s still helpful to know.
Figure Out the Fee Schedule
Don’t forget to ask about the fee schedule, too.
Does your pedestrian collision and accident lawyer work on a contingency basis? Do they charge an hourly rate?
Having this information will help you budget accordingly and ensure you can afford the lawyer’s services.
Schedule Your Meeting Today
Now that you know more about how to prepare for a meeting with a pedestrian accident lawyer and how to find the right lawyer to handle your case, it’s time to go ahead and schedule a consultation.
At first, you might be intimidated at the idea of meeting with a lawyer. The sooner you schedule a consultation, though, the sooner you’ll be able to move forward with your case and get the settlement you deserve.
Do you want to learn more about handling legal matters? If so, head to the legal section of our site to check out some other helpful articles.
