What should you bring to meet with your attorney?
Meeting with an attorney for the first time can be a daunting experience, however, it is a necessary step to take when you have just been in an accident causing you personal injury and suffering. To ensure that you are compensated appropriately when you are not at fault for the accident, an attorney is the most important resource you can turn to. For those who are meeting with an attorney for the first time in their life, they may ask: What should I bring along with me? What documents do I need? It is important to come prepared, and to be ready to get down to business when meeting with an attorney. It not only shows professionalism and commitment to the case on your part, but it makes the job of the attorney go much smoother when the needed information and documents are at hand from the beginning. It also can ensure that your case is treated in a timely manner. When in doubt, do not hesitate to ask questions, and consider asking what you will need to bring when you schedule your consultation. Though it is always good to ask, below is a list of documents and information that are typically expected to be brought to an initial consultation.
What to bring
Before even preparing for your first meeting with your attorney, you want to make sure that you get in contact with your attorney and schedule a consultation as soon as possible after your accident. Time is of the essence in personal injury cases, and acting fast can free you and your attorney from concerns regarding statute of limitations, or deadlines when you can file a claim. Again, time is of the essence, so being prepared with the right information from the first meeting can already speed up the initiation of your case, and make the process much more efficient moving forward. For the first meeting with your attorney, be ready to be asked questions, and come prepared with questions of your own. It is important for your lawyer to completely understand and follow the narrative of your accident. Coming prepared helps your attorney further understand your story, as well as speeds up the process when you provide your attorney with information, evidence, and documentation. You will want to bring the following:
- Your personal information
- Home address and phone number
- Work address and phone number
- Employer’s contact information
- Location of the accident
- It is always a good idea to take pictures of the accident scene
- If a police report and/or accident report is filed, get a copy and bring it
- Notes
- Timelines and details are extremely important
- Along with photos of where the accident took place, prepare notes of conditions at the time of the accident, hazards that caused the accident, etc.
- Be specific and write in detail!
- Injuries
- Again, take notes and create a timeline of injuries and treatments
- List injuries, diagnosis, and costs of treatment and care
- Provide contact information of all facilities and health care professionals who treated you
- Make note of the work you have missed because of the accident, and include this in your timeline
- Documentation
- Your driver’s license (or other personal identification)
- This includes, again, photos you have taken. If you have dash cam video, or are able to receive additional photos or videos, everything helps!
- Police & accident reports
- Medical records
- Lost wage information (to aid timeline of missed work)
- Receipts for any vehicle repairs paid out of pocket
- Opposing party contact information
- Witness contact information
Additionally, consider taking note of any contact you have had with insurance companies or opposing parties. Bring record of any contacts and conversations had with any insurance companies. If you receive emails or calls from insurance companies, you should always refer them to your attorney. Insurance companies may try to get you to settle for much less than what you deserve, so make note of these settlement offers made by insurance companies and again, refer them to your attorney. To avoid the temptation of early and inadequate settlement, only speak with your attorney about the accident, and make it a rule of thumb to always refer insurance companies to your attorney.
Finally, once you have met with your attorney, and have provided all the information needed to create a case, be patient. Your attorney will need time to go over every detail of the case, and determine what a realistic compensation goal will look like for your case. It takes time to build a good case, but your patience and cooperation is of the utmost importance. Also, never be afraid to ask questions, and to share your goals for the case; after all, you are the one who has been injured and wronged. Your attorney is there to represent you, so make sure to ask questions and share your thoughts and concerns so that you and your attorney can understand one another. 
