Meeting With an Attorney for a Consultation After a Serious Car Accident
Meeting with a lawyer for a free consultation after a serious car accident is a good first step toward figuring out your legal rights and options. An accident can leave you with serious injuries that may not go away and a stack of expenses. You should not have to deal with the financial impact of someone else’s carelessness all on your own. At the same time, many accident victims do not know how to proceed with their lawsuit. During a free consultation, you can ask whether you are entitled to damages, the best way to go about asserting your rights, and how a lawyer from our firm can help you.
Act quickly to preserve your legal rights
One of the first things to consider is the statute of limitations. For a car accident that occurs in Florida, the accident victim has four years from the accident’s date to bring a personal injury case, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a). If you do not file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, you waive your right to receive compensation. Some clients decide to pursue legal action right away, but others may need to wait due to severe injuries, disruptions to their family situations, or other reasons. A free consultation can be a great way to get more information about the statute of limitations for your case and how much time you may have left.
Choose the right attorney to help you
One of the most crucial functions of a free consultation is giving you a chance to get to know our attorneys and decide whether we are a good fit. Although our lawyer will ask you many questions about your situation, your damages, and how the accident happened, you can also ask our team questions. These include:
- Our experience handling car accident cases
- The types of cases we usually handle
- Our courtroom experience
- How much we think your case may be worth
- What types of services we provide
Before you get to the meeting, you can prepare a list of questions you want to ask so that you can clarify your case.
If you do not feel comfortable with taking legal action or have concerns about whether it will be a good fit, you are not obligated to retain our services at the end of the consultation. We can complete a consultation with you without any risk.
Preparing for a consultation
Some accident victims are nervous about meeting with our law firm. For many, this is the first time they have considered bringing a personal injury case against someone. You can bring a few documents with you (if you have them) to help make the most of your meeting.
Do not worry if you are missing some or all of these items. A lawyer from our team will still be able to speak with you about your situation and ask questions about your injuries to get an idea of your legal rights and options.
- A police report prepared regarding the accident
- Photographs of the scene of the accident, your injuries, and the vehicles
- Medical records
- Notes about what you remember from the accident
- Tickets or citations
- Auto insurance and medical insurance policies
- Information about the other drivers involved in the accident
- Names and contact information for any witnesses
The more information you can bring to the meeting, the better idea you and our team will have about the best options for moving forward.
Questions to ask yourself
It is also a good idea to spend some time reflecting on the accident and how it has impacted your life. Here are some questions to think about before going into your consultation:
- Have you been unable to work?
- Are your injuries potentially permanent, and do they prevent you from engaging in hobbies you used to enjoy?
- Are you no longer able to provide childcare for your family?
Keep track of this information, and be sure to tell your attorney how the accident has impacted you and your loved ones.
Determining if you have a case
One of the consultation’s most important goals is to determine whether you have a case against the person who hurt you. Many different laws could impact your right to recovery, and some of them may hinge on a few key facts in your case.
Your lawyer from our team will ask you questions to get a better sense of the facts of your accident, the parties involved, and the damages you have suffered. We may need more time to collect information about the accident to determine who may be at fault.
At this time, your lawyer will also discuss potential recovery, whether it is worth filing a lawsuit, and whether you may be able to negotiate a settlement.
Get a free consultation today
If you are ready to get a free consultation, contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato now.
Meeting with a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer for a free consultation after a serious car accident can seem overwhelming or intimidating, but the experience should be educational and help you decide which path to take.
We always provide our clients with honest, responsive communication, including during their consultations with us. Get started today by calling (954) 633-8270.
