What to Expect during Your First
Meeting with a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident with
serious injuries in the Tampa Bay area, you may feel it is
in your best interest to meet with a few Tampa car accident
lawyers so that you can learn about your rights. While you
can reasonably assume that a lawyer will be on your side and
will have your best interests at heart, speaking to any attorney
can be an intimidating experience, especially if you don't
know what to expect.
Tampa
car accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. wants you to feel
comfortable and at ease in your search for an attorney. The
following are a few pointers to walk you through the initial
consultation process:
- You
may be asked to fill out a questionnaire. Before you sit
down with a lawyer or law firm associate, you may be given
a form to fill out. This form will help the lawyer assess
your case as quickly and accurately as possible.
- The
lawyer may want to get to know you a little bit. Don't be
surprised if there are a few minutes of small talk to break
the ice.
- Be prepared
to listen and answer questions. The lawyer will likely have
some specific issues he or she wants to know about. You
can save yourself some time, and be a step closer to resolving
your case, by having your ducks in a row.
- Have
a brief description of your accident handy. The attorney
will want to know some basic, but important, facts about
your case. You may find it helpful to write out a brief
description of your case beforehand to jog your memory.
- Explain
your injuries and medical treatment so far. If you have
documentation and/or bills from a hospital, doctor, or other
health care provider, keep it handy in case the lawyer wants
to see it.
- You
may be asked about your injuries. For example, are you in
pain? Are you disabled? Have you missed any work? What is
your prognosis?
- Know
your insurance information. A lawyer will want to know about
your insurance carriers, the other driver's insurance (if
you know about it), and any conversations or correspondence
you have engaged in with any insurance companies.
- Keep
the names of other drivers involved, witnesses, citations,
and other accident scene evidence within reach. Your Tampa
car accident lawyer may not need this at the initial meeting,
but it pays to be ready.
At the
conclusion of the meeting or shortly thereafter, the lawyer
may decide not to take your case. There are a variety of reasons
why a lawyer may decline your case. The lawyer could have
a heavy caseload already, or the lawyer may feel your case
is not in his or her area of expertise. If the lawyer does
not take your case, he or she may offer you a legal opinion
and some advice to help you.
A Tampa
car accident lawyer may also refer your case to another attorney
who is better able to handle it. You are not required to use
the referral, but a professional referral can be a welcome
convenience for those who are overwhelmed with their injuries
and other losses from the car accident.
No matter what, you are encouraged
to seek a second opinion—or more—from other attorneys.
Tampa car accident
lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. would like to hear from you if you
or someone you love has been involved in an accident with
serious injuries. We strive to help our clients and potential
clients feel at ease, from the first meeting forward. We have
met with car accident victims from all over west central Florida
including Temple Terrace, Bradenton, Brandon, Carrollwood,
Sarasota, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Citrus, Safety Harbor,
St Petersburg, and beyond.
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