What to Expect at Your Katy Personal Injury Consultation

If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, one of the first calls you should make is to a personal injury lawyer. Most people know this—or at least that’s what they’ve been told. Yet many people still put it off.

We get it. It’s very normal to be a little nervous about calling and meeting with a personal injury lawyer for the first time. With everything going on your life after a serious injury, it’s just one more thing on your plate. And we hear a lot from people who hesitated because they “aren’t the suing type,” or because they were afraid they couldn’t afford a lawyer.

One of the best ways to overcome that anxiety is to know what to expect from your initial consultation with a personal injury attorney. In this blog, we’ll go over the basics so that you can go into that first meeting with confidence.

An initial consultation is a chance for your lawyer to get to know you and your personal injury case. It’s also an opportunity for you to get to know your lawyer (and how they handle cases).

Simply going to an initial consultation does not mean you’ve hired an attorney. You are not obligated to work with the first lawyer you call. The consultation helps you decide whether working together would be in your best interests.

From the lawyer’s perspective, they want to figure out whether you have a winnable personal injury case—and it’s the type of case that the law firm handles. Personal injury law is complicated, and some firms choose to focus only on specific types of personal injury cases, like car accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, or wrongful death.

If there’s a fit, the lawyer will offer to take your case. If not, they will give you realistic, objective advice about your further legal options. They might also refer you to a different attorney with the specialized expertise that your personal injury claim requires.

From your perspective, you should also take this opportunity to learn more about the legal team you’d be working with.

• Do you feel like you can trust them?
• Do you think they have the expertise and skill to win for you?
• What is their communication style?

The initial consultation is a chance for you to answer these and other questions before hiring anyone to represent you.

What If I Don’t Have Much Money?

The amount of money you currently have in your bank account makes absolutely no difference to an experienced personal injury lawyer when they are assessing a potential case.

We know that most injury victims are in tough financial circumstances when they seek out an experienced personal injury lawyer. That makes complete sense—few of our clients can work and they are facing significant medical bills and a long recovery.

That’s why personal injury lawyers like those at Will Adams Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis. Initial consultations are always free, and we don’t get paid up front. We only get paid if we recover financial compensation for our clients’ lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages, and we charge a percentage of that compensation (plus reimbursement for any court costs or case fees we pay on your behalf). If you don’t win, you owe us nothing.

In other words, what matters is the strength of your case and the skill of your attorney—not the size of your bank account. While it’s true that an injured person with a high-paying career might be able to get a higher settlement due to higher future lost wages, a skilled lawyer knows how to look beyond income to calculate the true value of a case.

Now that you know why initial consultations are so important, let’s go through what a typical consultation looks like, starting from before the conversation even begins.

What to Bring With You

You don’t have to take anything with you but yourself. While the documents listed below can help your attorney give you a more precise initial estimate of your case’s value and chances of success, the most important thing is that you talk to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

That said, if you have time beforehand, please consider bringing along:

• Medical records (such as a doctors’ notes, and your medical treatment plan)
• Medical bills
• Verification of your income (like pay stubs and W-2s)
• Any evidence you’ve already gathered from the crash (photos of the accident scene or injuries, or a police report)
• Insurance information (including a copy of your policy, as well as any discussions you’ve already had with an insurance company adjuster)
• Contact information for any eyewitnesses who were at the scene

Again, if you don’t have the time or energy to collect these items beforehand, don’t stress out too much. We can get this information from you later if need be. Don’t delay your consultation.

Expect to Answer a Lot of Questions

Our Katy personal injury lawyers will have a lot of questions for you to answer. The conversation topics will likely include things like:

• How did the accident occur?
• Who do you think was responsible?
• Did the police cite or ticket anyone at the crash scene?
• What injuries did you suffer?
• How have those injuries affected your day-to-day life?
• Have they kept you from working or earning a paycheck?
• Which doctors and hospitals did you go to for treatment?
• What medical treatment have you already received?
• What treatment do your doctors believe you will need in the future?

It may be helpful for you to write down answers to some of these questions beforehand to help you manage any anxiety you’re feeling, as well as to help ensure you don’t forget anything important.

Understand that these conversations need to be open, honest, and frank. We may ask you questions about your personal life and background. We may ask you for specific details about any emotional distress you’re experiencing.

While it’s not always comfortable or easy to talk about these topics, they are a necessary first step. Please know that at Will Adams Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys treat every prospective client with the utmost sensitivity and respect and hold all conversations in complete confidentiality—whether you ultimately hire us or not. We know this is a difficult time in your life; we’re here to make it better for you, not worse.

Bring Questions of Your Own

Initial consultations are meant to be two-way conversations.

Yes, the lawyer is trying to figure out if your personal injury lawsuit is one they can help with. They will ask you a lot of questions.

But it’s also a chance for you to determine, as best you can, whether the lawyer is a good fit for you, too. You want to be as confident as possible that your lawyer can not only handle your case successfully, but is also someone you are comfortable working with and can trust to treat you with the care and respect you deserve.

A few questions you may consider asking include:

• Have you handled similar personal injury cases in the past? Did any of those cases go to trial?
• What is your track record of success in those cases?
• Do you have any board certifications or other independent accreditations?
• How often will I get updates on my case?
• If I call you with a question, how soon can I expect a response?
• How much do you think my case is worth?
• Where can I read reviews or testimonials of your law firm? Would you be willing to connect me with any previous clients?

Remember that a typical personal injury case can take many months, and sometimes years, to resolve. The legal process takes time, and you will certainly have questions, concerns, and moments of frustration along the way.

Choosing the right attorney is about more than figuring out who can get you maximum compensation at the end of the process. Don’t underestimate the importance of hiring someone who is caring, who listens to and respects you, who answers your questions fully and quickly, and keeps you consistently updated about your case.

A great attorney cares about more than a big paycheck; they work hard to make sure you have the best possible experience from start to finish.

RELATED POST: 16 Questions to Ask Personal Injury Lawyer Candidates | Will Adams Law Firm

Most personal injury attorneys are licensed to practice statewide, and sometimes in multiple states and federal jurisdictions. And sometimes your specific case may require a legal specialist who is located farther away from you.

That said, there are significant advantages to working with an attorney who is physically close to you (and the location where the lawsuit is to be filed) whenever possible.

An experienced Katy personal injury attorney is not only more accessible to you should you need to meet in person, but they will also have a good knowledge of the local judges and court system, as well as reputation in the community that they can leverage. And outside your legal case, they have connections with local doctors, support groups, and other resources that can help you with your recovery.

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At Will Adams Law Firm, your recovery is our priority. And our team has an excellent track record of results. Our own Will Adams was on the legal team that secured the third-largest personal injury settlement in the nation in 2021.

But we’re not just after the big paycheck. We have deep roots in the Katy community and work hard to ensure all our clients get the comprehensive attention, respect, and care they deserve.

To schedule your free consultation with a Katy personal injury lawyer, call us at (281) 371-6345 or use the easy contact form on our website.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.