Blog
Five things to bring with you to meet with your personal injury lawyer
by Mandy Hicks
By Kyle Roby
Attorney, English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP
For someone who has little experience with law firms or the court system, meeting with a personal injury lawyer can be intimidating. The question we’re asked the most often by our clients is “What do you need me to bring?”
For my personal injury clients, I’ve condensed it down to a short list that you can use as a guideline. These are all documents that are not essential, but they’re very helpful to have with you so your attorney can get to work right away.
- Identification. For most of our clients, this is a driver’s license.
- A copy of the police report that was taken after your accident. If you don’t have an actual copy of it, bring along any information you can give us about it. The police report number and the agency that took the report is a great start. We can get the report if you don’t have it.
- Pay stubs. If you missed work due to a traffic wreck, we will need to know how much you’re making so that we can include economic damages in any settlement or lawsuit. A pay stub proves how much you are making. If you are self-employed, your most recent tax return is incredibly helpful.
- Contact information for any witnesses in your case. If you had a passenger with you or if you know of someone who witnessed the wreck, we will want to talk to that person.
- Medical records from your accident. Which hospital or doctor treated you? What was your diagnosis? What tests were performed? We will need all of that information. We can get those records if needed.
Lastly, it may be helpful for you to bring a calm friend or relative with you to help you remember details or ask questions. The presence of someone who knows you well can be very comforting.
The biggest thing to remember is that it’s OK if you’re nervous, and it’s OK to be upset when you’re discussing your accident with us. We’re accustomed to it and we know working your way through the court system is intimidating. This is one of the primary benefits to hiring an attorney: you’re hiring someone to work on your behalf. You don’t have to know how everything works, and you don’t have to have all of the details pulled together. Leave that to us. We’ll ask for more information when we need it, but everything you can hand to us up front makes the process work faster. And who doesn’t want the court process to move quickly?
If I can help you with your personal injury case, please contact me, Kyle Roby, at (270) 781-6500 or kroby@elpolaw.com. My firm, English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, has extensive experience with personal injury cases, including car accidents, tractor-trailer wrecks and premises liability cases (trip and fall cases). The initial consultation is free.
