If you sustained an injury as the result of an accident or someone else’s negligence, it is important to speak with a lawyer so that you understand your rights and know your entitlement to compensation. When you contact Clarke Personal Injury Lawyers, we will arrange a free no-obligation consultation with you in order to help you determine whether or not you should proceed with further legal action. Your consultation may take place at our office, or if your injury makes that too difficult, we will come to you at your home or at the hospital.
Question: How Can I Prepare for the Consultation?
In order for us to give you the best legal advice possible, we will need several pieces of information from you including but not limited to the two pieces of personal identification, any hospital discharge, any x-ray referrals, a copy of the motor vehicle accident report, etc. The more information we have, the better advice we can give.
We therefore ask you to prepare these items ahead of time – if you cannot do this yourself, we recommend getting a trusted friend or family member to help you.
General information about you, your work and your family
Depending on a number of personal factors, the expenses you are likely to incur as the result of your injury can vary greatly. For example, are you the primary income earner in your family? Do you have children? Are you a caregiver for a parent or grandparent? If you’ve been injured, it won’t just affect you, but those close to you.
Medical History
Letting your lawyer know all the details of your medical history is important when making an insurance claim. Insurance policies may have exclusions for certain pre-existing conditions, or certain conditions may mean that you’ll likely incur greater than normal medical expenses as the result of your injury. All of this must be taken into account when considering your case.
Previous Reports – Medical, Police, and Insurance
In determining whether or not to pay a claim, your insurance company is going to look at your personal information, including your previous medical history, the motor vehicle accident report, if any, and medical reports. It is important that your lawyer have access to all of this information as well in order to provide you with appropriate advice.
Details about the accident and your injuries sustained as a result
Finally, we will want to get as much information from you as possible about the accident that you were in, as well as about the injuries that you sustained. Provide us with as many details as you can recall about how the accident was caused and who was involved.
If you’ve already spoken with your insurance company, also let us know what was said and done as a result. If an adjuster or advisor has been assigned to your claim, provide us with their contact information. Our initial consultation will help both us and you determine whether further legal action should be considered. After the initial meeting, there is no obligation to sign on with our firm.