After an accident, it is easy to feel overwhelmed or even intimidated by meeting with a lawyer. However, your attorney is an ally who only wants to help. Help them help you: Gather the tools they need to take up your fight and give you the best legal representation possible armed with all the facts!
Documents for the Win
Documenting your injury and your losses is the most important thing you can do. The documents you provide will help lead to the conclusion of your claim. Start with these basics on your first visit to your lawyer:
- Medical Records – if you have been injured and went to the ER, a family doctor, or a surgeon, give all those records to the lawyer’s office. If they’ve been misplaced or if you want to acquire what the facility you visited has on file, you can request those documents.
- Receipts – if you have incurred any bills or expenses related to your accident, you should bring those receipts with you. You may find it easiest to collect all this information in a folder or file for easy access, and so they do not become misplaced. For instance, if a carseat, cell phone, laptop, or any other items were damaged, give receipts and documentation to the lawyer’s office.
- Police Reports – if the police were involved in the incident that caused your injuries, you should bring all related police reports to the meeting with your lawyer.
- Insurance Information – insurance policy language can often be confusing and unclear. Your lawyer can help you sort through what expenses are and are not covered by your policy if you share your insurance policy with the lawyer’s office.
- Correspondence With the Other Involved Party – if the person or people involved in your injury have sent text messages, letters, voicemails, emails, or even messages through social media, print these out to bring with you.
- Legal-Looking Paperwork – have you received a lien letter from a hospital or a letter from another law firm? Your attorney will want to see them.
- Pay Stubs and Employment Correspondence – if you needed to miss work because of your injuries, or your capacity to earn a living was diminished by the incident, you should bring the proof of these to your meeting with your lawyer. Bring pay stubs and W2 forms for your lawyer to examine as well.
- Pictures, Notes, and Miscellaneous Information – give your lawyer pictures of your car and of the car that hit you, or faulty equipment that injured you. You likely took pictures of your injuries. Bring any miscellaneous related information, pictures, and notes to your attorney. Pictures can make a huge difference.
- A Personal Statement – write down what happened in your own words, detailing all the information you remember. Weather, time of day, interactions with the other party, everything you can recollect. This can help paint a full picture of the incident. Keep a diary.
Steven A. Bagen & Associates Are on Your Side
Filing a personal injury claim is a matter of having the appropriate documentation, on top of simply being injured. We understand how stressed and anxious this could make anyone. Contact Steven A. Bagen & Associates today for a consultation with a personal injury team that has the experience to help you navigate the claims process so you can receive the compensation you deserve. This way you can get back to focusing on what matters: your health and wellbeing.
