When you have suffered an injury, you might be distressed and confused. With medical bills piling up, you likely need relief as soon as possible. The easiest route to take is to hire a personal injury lawyer and you'll likely receive more compensation due to the better arguments that personal injury lawyers are typically able to make. However, that doesn't mean that there's nothing you should be doing. There are several things you should bring to your first personal injury consultation.
Medical Records
Medical records are essential. They are used to determine how much you should be compensated for medical expenses. Medical records also serve as evidence that your injuries were a result of an accident and weren't the result of an underlying condition. Also, provide information about the medical provider and your health insurance provider. If you made any payments to healthcare providers, bring your receipts. With any new bills you receive, bring them to your lawyer promptly.
Your Insurance
Provide information about any other insurance that you carry. You might be surprised at the coverage that an insurance provider offers you. For instance, an auto insurance provider may be able to help you as you recover from your injuries. You will at least need proof of insurance such as an insurance card.
Police Reports
Already having the police report can make the process easier for your lawyer. He or she can still order the police report if you don't have it, but you can help speed up the process.
Correspondence
If you have had any correspondence with the other party, make sure to bring this to your lawyer. For example, bring any email correspondence or text messages. This will help your lawyer craft a legal argument. Sometimes, what you say can be used against you, but if your lawyer knows what you have said, this will affect your legal argument.
Photographs
Photographs are a very useful tool during a personal injury claim. Photographs of your injuries can be used to highlight how the injuries have affected you. Photographs of the scene of the accident can be used to support your version of the events. For example, photographs could show the dangerous conditions that lead to your injury and how unreasonable they were. Make sure to bring any photographs you took to your personal injury lawyer. The more information he or she has, the easier it will be for your lawyer to help you.
For more information, reach out to a local personal injury lawyer.
