Learning how to talk to a personal injury lawyer starts by preparing for the first meeting. Most personal injury lawyers schedule free initial consultations with clients that can run between 15 minutes and one hour. The amount of time spent during the first meeting depends on the type of personal injury case, as well as the complexity of the case.
Let’s see how you should prepare to talk with a personal injury lawyer during the first meeting.
Know What You Want to Say
It is difficult to talk to anyone if you do not know what you want to say. This is even more relevant when the time comes to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney. The lawyer who sits across from you is assessing you as much as you are assessing the attorney. Presenting a version of events that are backed up by evidence is a good strategy when meeting with any lawyer for the first time.
You should bring with you the evidence that you collected at the scene of the incident, as well as the official police report that describes the version of events. The attorney meeting with you will want to see you present the facts of the case, without stumbling over presenting them. Presenting a consistent and compelling narrative determines whether you will make a credible witness during a deposition or a civil trial if your case goes that far.
Honesty is the Best Policy
You want to work with an honest lawyer who possesses a high level of integrity. The same principle applies to you.
You cannot expect to gain the trust of an attorney if you exaggerate how a personal injury incident unfolded. A prime example of misleading information is when a potential client lies about how fast he or she was traveling before making an impact with another motor vehicle. “Oh, I was moving just 30 miles per hour” when in fact the evidence collected at the scene demonstrates that you were moving much faster.
Highly skilled lawyers can detect when a potential client is hiding something. Come to the first meeting with a personal injury lawyer ready to speak honestly about the incident that caused your injuries.
Remain Calm
You know the timeless saying, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it that matters.” Well, it does matter what you say to a personal injury lawyer. However, it is just as important to say it calmly and confidently. Once again, any lawyer that you meet with for the first time is analyzing your ability to take the witness stand and strengthen your case.
Do not complain about how an insurance company has wronged you. The lawyer sitting across from you already knows that. A personal injury attorney is there for you to provide a measured analysis of your case. Stay composed and stick with the facts, and you should make a positive impression on the lawyer sitting across from you.
Ask for Clarification
You can expect to see a lot of complex legal terms when you research your personal injury case. For example, many cases involve a Prayer for Relief. It sounds like a desperate move for a plaintiff that is losing an argument over an insurance claim. In fact, Prayer for Relief is just a fancy way of saying how much money you want.
The point is that when you meet with your personal injury lawyer for the first time, you should ask for clarification every time something confuses you. Maybe you are not clear about the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit or you do not understand the meaning of negligence. Whatever the reason, you should ask questions when something does not make sense.
As our teachers said in grade school, “There are no stupid questions.”