After an accident, the initial step that you should take is to schedule a first meeting with a Houston personal injury attorney. It is imperative; they will examine your case and inform you of the other details you have to know for the next level of the process.
During this consultation, the lawyer is likely to try and gather facts that can determine how viable your case is. It is also a chance for you to do some questioning yourself, and perhaps decide whether or not that specific attorney is right for your case.
These being said, it is evident that for the consultation to proceed as planned certain preparations should have been done. This is how you should prepare for your first meeting with a Houston personal injury lawyer.
1. Assemble Key Papers and Data
During the consultation, you will be expected to produce all records related to your case when you are meeting your Houston personal injury lawyer. If there are any witnesses, then provide the attorney with their details and any statements that they might have provided.
2. Be Prepared to Go Into the Specifics of the Accident
When you meet your Houston personal injury lawyer for consultation, the lawyer will ask to listen to the details of the accident and the injuries you sustained. Be prepared to discuss:
- How the accident occurred;
- What injuries you incurred and how you have been affected;
- All the steps that you have taken since the accident (for instance, seeking medical help, notifying the insurance companies);
- Any damages you may have incurred for lost wages or medical bills.
This is the first impression your lawyer gets and hence should not be misleading in any way, All details should be provided clearly and in their totality as this will enable your lawyer to get a disclosure of the merits of the case in question.
3. Understand the Fee Structure
It’s necessary to get acquainted with the variety of ways your attorney will be paid. Contingency fees are a prevalent billing model in personal injury law practice, and Ramsey Law Group offers this category of payment. This means the lawyer has no pay if you lose your case, as the lawyer works on it based on an agreement that they will only be paid in case you win the case. They will be paid through a percentage of the amount of money that you were awarded in the case. Find out how much of a percentage they will take and if there are any charges that you might be on the hook for, like filing costs or payment to expert witnesses.
5. Be Open to Advice and Next Steps
Finally, you should be able to get from your lawyer an assessment of the prospects of success of your case and what comes next. Be ready to take their advice very seriously. If they advise that you file a lawsuit, negotiate with the insurance company, or use another approach, consider the options they suggest to you.