What Happens On Your First Consultation With A Personal Injury Attorney In California?
Filing any legal claim can take a while. For example, a personal injury claim in California could take months to years, depending on how complicated the case is. In other words, you'll be working with your California personal injury attorney for a long time on such a crucial aspect of your life.
Hence, you need to go into your first consultation, have your case assessed, and get to know your California personal injury lawyer before working together. This is a great way to know what to expect from your lawyer and what they expect from you.
What Does A California Personal Injury Attorney Do?
Before going in for your first consultation, let's look at what a prescreened California personal injury lawyer does to help a client's case:
Assess your case to determine if it is eligible for a personal injury claim in California
Identify potentially liable parties which will become defendants in your claim
Facilitate the claims process, including demand letters, court documents, etc.
Investigate and compile evidence to strengthen your case
Build a strong case and arguments to ensure success
Negotiate for payouts in out-of-court settlements
Represent you in court in a personal injury lawsuit in California
In short, a prescreened California personal injury attorney greatly benefits your case. To help you win, they need to know everything about the case. So they'll likely ask you a few questions and send you emails and messages throughout the process.
And since personal injury lawsuits can take a while, you want to work with a legal counsel that best suits you.
What Happens On A First Consultation With A California Personal Injury Attorney?
So, what are the things you need to discuss with your California personal injury attorney? Although every personal injury case is different, there are several things that most lawyers and clients will need to do:
1. Your Attorney Will Ask For A Rundown Of Your California Personal Injury Case
The first thing a California personal injury attorney needs to know is what your case is all about. This is when you'll tell them what exactly happened, who the involved parties are, and what your current status is.
For example, you inform your California personal injury lawyer that you've been in a car accident. Then, you talk about who the other parties are in an accident; it could be another driver who drove recklessly or a construction company who did not use safety measures to keep debris off the road. Then, you should talk about your injuries, economic losses, and emotional distress.
This will allow your California personal injury lawyer to assess your potential claim properly.
2. You Should Ask Questions
Remember, you will work alongside your California personal injury attorney for a while. Therefore, you want to know what you should (or shouldn't) do to ensure the success of your case.
For example, a personal injury lawyer in California will advise clients to avoid confronting defendants, talking about the case to friends and family, and posting about the issue on social media. They'll also tell you to avoid speaking to defendants, their lawyers, or any other party without them present.
3. Expect An Estimation Of Your Damages
Your personal injury lawyers in California will calculate the potential damages you might receive. This is done by adding up all the losses you've incurred and then looking into the severity of the case and the defendants involved in it.
4. Ask About The Costs
Most personal injury attorneys in California operate on a contingency basis. Essentially, they will take a portion of your winnings, so you don't have to pay them lawyer's fees. Likewise, you don't have to pay them anything if you don't win the case. This percentage can vary depending on which lawyer you're hiring.
So, make sure to ask your lawyer on your first consultation.
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