If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you really should call an experienced car wreck lawyer in Atlanta. You’re going to need to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let a skilled attorney worry about the legal side of things. They can deal with the insurance company and try to get your claim paid. They can also make sure your medical providers understand that your treatment is part of a car accident lawsuit. In short, they’ll make your life a lot easier while you get better.
There’s no rule that says you have to hire a car wreck lawyer after your crash. You’re absolutely able to handle it yourself. But if you decide that you want someone by your side who knows the law, call our office. You can schedule your free initial consultation right away. Sit down with someone who’s handled cases just like yours before. They know what questions to ask and they have dealt with plenty of insurance adjustors in the past. When you meet with them for the first time, there’s certain information you should bring with you. Here, we’ll talk about what these things are. We’ll also give you an idea of what happens at your initial consultation so you’re prepared.
Do You Have to Pay for Your Initial Consultation with an Atlanta Car Wreck Lawyer?
A lot of people don’t call a lawyer after their accident because they don’t think they can afford it. They don’t realize that you can visit with an attorney for free. Almost all car accident lawyers work on what’s called a contingency basis. This means that you don’t pay a dime until your case is settled. Once you receive your settlement, your attorney will take a percentage of your money.
Let’s say that you sue the other driver in a car crash for $250,000. You have no money to pay your attorney up front. Your Atlanta car accident lawyer ends up settling your case for $180,000. You signed a contingency agreement saying that you’d pay your attorney 33% of your settlement. This means that, of the $250,000 you received, your attorney will get about $83,000.
How Long is Your Initial Consultation?
When you meet with your car accident lawyer for the first time, don’t expect to be there for much longer than 30-60 minutes. There’s not much your attorney can do until they’ve reviewed your case and talk to the insurance company. Your consultation will be just long enough for you tell the attorney your story. They’ll also briefly review any paperwork you bring. Finally, they’ll answer your questions. It really shouldn’t take longer than a half hour to do this. Unless your case is very complicated, it won’t take your new lawyer long to determine if they want to accept your case. If they do, they’ll let you know how their fee works. If you decide you want to retain them, they’ll have you sign a retainer agreement and set up a new time to meet to follow up.
There is Certain Information You Should Bring to Your First Meeting
Your attorney is going to need some information in order to properly review your case. This is why you should bring any paperwork you have related to the case. Make sure this information is organized. Your attorney’s time is valuable. Any time they have to spend making sense of your paperwork is time they could’ve spent working on getting your case settled. Bring the following items with you for your initial consultation:
- Copies of any medical bills you’ve received
- Proof of how long you’ll be out of work
- A copy of the police report
- Copies of any letters or emails you’ve received from the insurance company
- Any pictures you have of the crash scene or your injuries
- Contact information for the other driver‘s lawyer
Of course, if you forget something, you can always fax or send a copy of it later on. For now, it’s important for your attorney to get a good picture of what happened. Ideally, they’ll be able to get started on your case right away. The more information you give them, the better off you’ll be.
Contact an Experienced Car Wreck Lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia
If you’re hurt in a car accident, call our office right away. Make sure you schedule your free initial consultation as soon as possible. The sooner you get started, the faster you can resolve your case.
