You have suffered injuries in an accident/incident in Philadelphia due to someone’s neglect or intent. What should you do next? Before anything else, seek medical care and inform the relevant authorities. For instance, if it was a car accident, inform the local police immediately and call 911. If you sustained injuries in a slip-and-fall accident, inform the premise owner or management, as applicable. Once you feel better, consider consulting one of Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorneys. Below are some key tips for meeting an attorney.
Get your documents and records in order
Before you step inside the office of a lawyer, make sure that you have all your case details with you – photos from the accident scene and your injuries, medical records and bills, vehicle repair bills (if any), lost income proof, and other things. Your lawyer will usually rely on these details to offer an initial assessment of the case.
Start by asking questions
The first meeting with an attorney is always about asking relevant questions. You can ask questions like –
- How long have you been practicing in Philadelphia?
- How often do you work on similar personal injury cases?
- Are you personally available to take my case?
- What would be your initial steps?
- Can you explain the expected outcomes?
- How often do you go to trial for such cases?
- Do you expect this case to go to trial?
No attorney can ever guarantee an outcome because there are things beyond their control. If a lawyer says that they can get a fixed settlement for your injury case, they are lying. Watch out for the red flags.
Be honest
Your lawyer would want to know if you had a role in causing the accident or if you did enough to prevent it from happening. For instance, if you were injured in a car crash and had a share in fault, it would reduce what you get in a settlement. Being honest with your attorney is one of the key aspects of fighting a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer will typically share a few dos and don’ts that you must follow after the initial consultation.
Hiring a lawyer for your injury lawsuit in Philadelphia is not mandatory, but it could be the wisest thing to do. You should consult an attorney soon after to know the worth of your claim, and more importantly if you have a case in the first place.
