When you are scheduled to meet with a personal injury lawyer after a Nevada car accident, you may wonder how to prepare. It’s helpful to gather certain documents and have them handy to help the attorney evaluate whether you have a valid personal injury claim.
At Sam & Ash, our Nevada car accident lawyers understand how overwhelming the aftermath of a serious crash can be. We believe that meeting with an attorney should not be a cause of added stress. Our attorneys will make every effort to put you at ease. That starts with being on a first-name basis with your attorney. We want you to talk to us as you would a trusted friend, because that is What’s Right.
We will take the time to understand how the accident has affected you and how we may assist you in your recovery. We’ve put together some information to help you know what to anticipate when meeting with an attorney and how to prepare.
What To Expect When Meeting with a Car Accident Lawyer in Nevada
When you have your first meeting with a Nevada car accident lawyer, the attorney will need to understand the basic facts of how the car accident occurred and the scope of your injuries. The attorney will want to know about the specific injuries you have and whether you have received medical treatment. If you have received treatment, the attorney may ask about your prognosis.
The attorney will try to determine whether another driver’s carelessness or disregard for safety caused the car accident and whether the other driver was insured. The attorney will need to have enough facts to determine whether there is a basis for a personal injury lawsuit.
What Documents Should You Bring to a Meeting with a Car Accident Lawyer?
When you are preparing to meet with a car accident lawyer, here are some documents to bring with you to ensure the meeting is as productive as possible:
- Police accident report – If a police officer responded to the scene of the crash, it’s a good idea to obtain a copy of the accident report. Police accident reports outline the details of the accident. The report includes identifying information for everyone involved in the crash, the drivers’ insurance companies, any citations issued for traffic violations, and the investigating officer’s official opinion regarding who was at fault.
- Medical bills – Medical expenses typically have the biggest financial impact after a car accident. Providing your attorney with your medical bills is essential. This includes invoices and receipts from any medical treatment you receive in addition to incidental expenses, such as the costs of traveling to and from accident-related medical appointments. If you were in the hospital, it’s helpful to have the dates of the hospital treatment. If you don’t have copies of your medical records, the attorney may ask you to sign a release to authorize access to your records.
- Photographs – If you took photos of the accident scene, be sure to bring copies of them with you or have them accessible on your cell phone. The attorney can review the photos to get a better sense of how the accident occurred and may even identify evidence that could support your case. Photos of your injuries from the accident are also useful evidence.
- Insurance information – If you have auto insurance or health insurance, bring copies of your policies with you when you meet with the attorney. If you have details about the other driver’s insurance, bring that information, too. Nevada requires automobile owners to maintain auto liability coverage. Liability coverage pays for other people’s losses if you are at fault in an accident. However, there are other types of optional insurance that may cover your losses and those of your passengers, such as Medical Payments (Medpay) and uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. Your lawyer can review the various policies you and the other drivers have to determine which apply to your accident and whether you’re entitled to file an injury claim.
- Income records – If you have been forced to miss time at work as a result of your accident-related injuries and have lost income as a result, you will want to bring documentation of your wages from before and after the crash. The pre-crash records can establish your earnings before you were injured, and the post-crash records can show precisely how much income you have lost.
- Car repair estimates – If your vehicle sustained damage as a result of the accident, bring along any estimates or invoices showing the cost of the vehicle repairs. This documentation will allow you to show exactly how much money you may be owed for the damage to your vehicle.
Having available the documents listed above will make your initial meeting with the attorney as productive as possible.
The Attorney Will Decide Whether To Take the Case
Based on an assessment of the information and documents, the attorney will decide whether your case is a good match with the type of cases the attorney typically handles. If so, the attorney may offer to handle the case on a contingency fee basis.
The initial meeting also offers you an opportunity to assess whether the attorney is a good fit for you. Do you like the attorney’s communication style and feel comfortable confiding in the lawyer? You may consider asking about the attorney’s previous experience with cases like yours, their trial experience, their fee structures, and whether they personally will be the one handling your case. There are also questions you should ask before hiring an accident attorney.
Get in Touch with Our Nevada Car Accident Attorneys
When you work with the trusted attorneys of Sam & Ash, you can be assured that your case is in good hands. You can focus on your recovery, while our Las Vegas injury attorneys handle the paperwork and negotiations with the insurance companies. We want to help you seek full and fair compensation for your injuries because you deserve What’s Right. Contact us today to discuss the details of your Nevada car accident case in a free initial case review.
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