If you or somebody you love has been injured due to the negligent or careless actions of another person, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover the compensation you are entitled to. At the Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys want to discuss the 12 things you need to do to prepare before meeting with your attorney.
1. Written summary
You should prepare a brief written summary of the accident and the subsequent injuries. This should include the date of the accident, the time of day it occurred, where it occurred, as well as the weather in road conditions at the time of the incident. Write down the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses and discuss whether or not police or emergency personnel responded to the scene. If you have already given a statement to an insurance adjuster (you should not do this before speaking to an attorney), then make note of that as well.
2. Injury photos or videos
If there are any photos or video surveillance that you took at the scene of the crash, bring this to your accident attorney. You should also continue to document your recovery with photos, including frequent pictures of injuries and the healing process.
3. Medical records
You should gather all medical records that you have related to your injuries. You should also bring any medical records to prior injuries to the same body parts. Your attorney also needs to know whether you suffer from unrelated medical conditions, because these could be used against you by opposing counsel or insurance carriers. Medical records include doctors notes, surgery records, physical therapy logs, prescription medication records, and more.
4. Medical treatment
You need to continue seeking medical treatment and keep all documentation of continued medical treatment. Do not miss or postpone treatment unless absolutely necessary because this could have a negative impact on your case.
5. Insurance
Your attorney needs detailed information regarding your insurance coverage, so bring copies of all insurance cards and your policy if you have it.
6. Employment or school
Depending on the circumstances of your case, your attorney may need your employment and/or school records for the time in question. These records could be used to help calculate lost income or lost opportunities that occur due to your injuries.
7. Social media
Please avoid posting anything on social media pertaining to your injury or any activities that you participate in after the injury occurs. This information could be used by the other parties to limit or deny your insurance settlement. If you have made any posts on social media, you need to let your attorney know.
8. Silence on your part
It is advisable to avoid speaking to anybody else about your personal injury case. The opposing party’s attorney could try to contact anybody that you have talked to. If you are contacted by insurance adjusters or another attorney, you do not need to respond. Direct their questions to your attorney.
9. Lost wages
Bring any proof of lost wages with you to your attorney. This can include salary information, tax documents, paychecks or pay stubs, and more.
10. Government IDs
bring copies of all of your government ID’s with you to your appointment with your attorney.
11. Paperwork
If your attorney asked you to complete any paperwork prior to the initial appointment, fill this out beforehand and be ready to give it to them.
12. Questions
Write down any questions you have about your personal injury case so that you will remember them when you first meet with your attorney.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or somebody you love needs assistance after sustaining an injury caused by the negligence of another person, contact the Ciccarelli Law Offices today. We are going to investigate every aspect of your case in order to secure maximum compensation on your behalf. When you need a Philadelphia personal injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 215.228.0100.