Were you just recently involved in a wreck and sustained some car accident injuries? Do you have a meeting with your attorney coming up soon? If so, then you’ll want to be advised on what to bring to the meeting. There are a few different pieces of documentation that you should have whenever you’re meeting attorneys. Not doing so can defeat the purpose of the meeting, which is to strategize.
Knowing what those are ahead of time can help you come prepared. See below for an in-depth guide on what documentation to bring when you’re meeting with attorneys for a car accident.
1. Medical Records
First things first, your number one priority after a car crash should always be the health of yourself and any passengers in your car. If you’ve sustained an injury during the car accident, you must see help from a medical professional. Doing so can ensure that you have a speedy recovery and aren’t dealing with lifelong consequences in the long run.
It’s also crucial for your case. The only way you can prove the injuries that you’ve sustained in the car wreck is through documented medical records. These can only be provided by a doctor. Therefore, in order to get the amount of compensation that you’re entitled to, you need to have medical documentation. This will outline what injuries you received, the treatment for them, and how much it will cost.
Choosing not to seek medical attention can have a negative impact on your case. The opposition will claim that if the injuries were as serious as you claim, you would’ve sought out treatment a lot sooner. Don’t leave that up to chance.
If you’re concerned about covering the cost of the medical expenses while you wait for compensation, then look into pre-settlement funding.
2. Photos and Videos
From the very first time you meet with your attorney about your car accident, you’re going to want to start piling up the evidence. Perhaps no type of evidence is more important than the photos and videos that you take while you’re on the scene of the car accident. It can help validate the story you tell and make it difficult for the opposition to spin the evidence in their favor.
Whenever you’re on the scene of a car crash, be sure to take as many photos and videos as you possibly can. Take photos of things like the damage to your car, your injuries, the other driver’s car, the road you’re on, their driver’s plate, the time of day, and so on. Also, take the time to record a video walking around the entire body of your car and where their vehicle is about it. This can give your attorney a clear picture of the crash and how to proceed moving forward.
3. Statements From Witnesses
Any time that there’s a car accident in a public place, you’re bound to get at least one or two witnesses that stay behind to give their side of the story. While their story will get documented in the police report, you must meet with them as well. Take some time to get each witness’s side of the story, writing down as much of you can about what they tell you.
More importantly, get their full name, phone number, and email. Your personal injury attorney will reach out to them at a later date to get their story in better detail. Writing down what they tell you at the scene is important. The more days that pass by, the less your witnesses will remember about what happened. If your attorney has notes on their original story, it may job the witness’s memory.
4. The Other Party’s Contact Information
Try to be as amicable as possible with the other parties involved in the crash. No matter who’s at fault, it’s important to remain as calm as possible. Keeping calm is also crucial to getting their contact information. Take the time to exchange contact information with them such as their email, phone number, full name, driver’s license, and license plate number.
You’ll also want to exchange car insurance information. Don’t worry about who’s at fault right now, that can be settled at a later date. Take the time at the scene to simply make sure that everyone’s safe, gets the medical attention they need, and cooperates with the police report.
5. Your Personal Notes From the Crash
The other party might try to spin the events of the car accident in their favor, but you know what happened. However, if you wait to meet with your attorney even a day or two after the crash, you might forget some important details.After the local police officer has dismissed you from the scene of the car crash, be sure to take some time to pull out your phone write down what happened.
Think of every detail that you can. What time of day it was, where you were on the road, what you saw before the crash, what happened in the crash, and so on. Write down everything the other side said to you after the crash, the witnesses that were there, and so on. That way, you can have your notes available when you retell the story to your attorney. The notes might jolt a few memories you otherwise would have forgotten.
Have These Documents Ready When Meeting Attorneys
Now that you’ve seen all the necessary documentation that you need when meeting attorneys, be sure to get them all prepared for your initial meeting. Remember, these are just the starting point for your case. Your lawyer has a lot more resources than he or she can use to build your case, but the initial documentation pieces give you momentum from the get-go.
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on meeting with lawyers, as well as many other helpful topics that you’ll enjoy.
