If you’ve recently been involved in an injurious car accident, you’re likely wondering whether you’re in a position to file a lawsuit against those who have caused your harm. This is a good question and one that you’ll want to follow up on as soon as you can. Even if you’re not ready to commit to filing legal action against one or more responsible parties, you’ll want to speak with an attorney to ensure that any evidence that could potentially make or break your case down the line is immediately preserved.
Investing an hour or two of your time in attending a free consultation at a local law office can also help to ensure that your interests are properly protected when insurance representatives start calling and that your legal options are preserved until you’re ready to make a decision about pursuing legal action one way or another.
Consultation Expectations
As an experienced car accident attorney can confirm, one of the best reasons to schedule a free consultation with an attorney promptly is that, in doing so, you’ll provide yourself with the opportunity to ask any question and voice any concern that may be weighing on your mind. In a consultation setting, lawyers aren’t selling you their services. They’re providing you with objective, personalized feedback so that you can make informed decisions about your legal situation.
To prepare for your initial consultation, take some time to write your questions and concerns down. That way, you’ll have them easily available to reference in case you forget what you wanted to ask or say. You can ask about the lawsuit process itself, the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and the firm’s approach to representation in cases like yours. If you have a police report, accident scene photos, and other information available for a lawyer’s review, know that bringing this information along will help to ensure that the guidance you receive is as tailored as it can be to your unique situation.
Lawsuit Expectations
If you choose to file legal action against those who have caused you harm, you’ll want to ask your attorney what to expect from the process and the timeline related to the process. As no two car accident lawsuits ever unfold under exactly the same circumstances, it isn’t always easy to pinpoint what to expect until you’ve received personalized guidance from your personal attorney.
Generally speaking, you can expect that your lawyer will need to engage in some dogged negotiations with insurance companies and will need to undertake some investigative efforts to confirm all of the evidence that is relevant to your case. Once they’ve developed a strong strategy, they will likely attempt to negotiate with the other side in an effort to keep your case out of court. If going to trial becomes the best way to secure you what you’re owed, that’s what they’ll do.