Clients who come consult with our personal injury attorneys after a car crash all vary in their level of preparation for the meeting. Some bring no documents and others bring a folder full of documents and a list of questions to ask. Please note that we are more than happy to meet with you about your car wreck even if you have nothing with you or no questions to ask. In fact, most Colorado injury attorneys prefer meeting with a potential client as soon as possible after a car wreck because time is of the essence. However, many of our clients are high-functioning overachievers. So, for you overachievers out there, the following documents can turn a good first meeting into a great first meeting.
Police Report/ Incident Report: A police report from the car wreck or an incident report from a slip and fall are always welcome at the first meeting because they provide your personal injury attorney with the basic details (who, what, and where) of your case. Also, the police report or incident report can alert your attorney to any weakness your injury case might have, if any.
List of medical providers: To prosecute your injury case, we need the medical records and bills you incurred as a result of the car accident injuries. Having a list with the names and addresses of all of your past and present doctors, therapists, and medical providers can save our office countless hours in gathering your records.
Photos of your damaged vehicle: In personal injury cases involving car crashes, photos of damage to your vehicle are very helpful in the first meeting.
Photos of accident location: In car crash or slip and fall cases, photos of the location where the incident occurred are great to look at during the first meeting. For example, if you fell on a curb or down some dangerous stairs, bring pictures of those locations. These photos often help attorneys better understand your case and assist them in determining the strength of your injury claim.
Photos showing you're prior level of activity: It is great when a client brings in photos of how active they used to be. I have seen wonderful photos of clients biking, mountain climbing, and surfing. Even pictures of happy family outings help me understand the impact of the injury on my client.
Written story of what happened to you: It is great when a client takes the time to write me a letter detailing the facts of a car wreck in their own words. This makes sure that we don't miss any important nuance or detail.
Insurance/ Medicaid/ Medicare card: We make photo copies of these cards to allow my staff to determine the medical bills that have been paid and the providers or insurance entities that might be out there looking to get paid from any settlement you receive for your injuries.
List of case related phone numbers and claim numbers: Good clients bring a list of claim numbers and telephone number for the insurance adjusters involved in the case. These notes are often very helpful and assist us in providing prompt notice of our representation to the insurance companies.
List of witnesses: We love to speak to witnesses as early as possible in the process because witnesses tend to forget details as time goes on. I try to get recorded statement of all eye witnesses as soon as possible. Consequently, a list of witness names and numbers is really helpful in that first meeting.
Conclusion:
At Anderson Hemmat, we know what it is like to have your life turned upside down by a car wreck resulting in injuries. Bringing the materials discussed above to your first meeting can help us get a head start on fully protecting your rights and getting you back on your feet. We urge you to call (303) 782-9999 to speak with an experienced Denver injury attorney or use our free personal injury case evaluation form to get started now.