After an accident, you might want to file for a personal injury claim. Finding the right Fall River personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim might be a daunting task especially if you’ve never had to consult one before.
You might have all these questions running through your mind and when preparing to meet with one, it’s good to remember that talking to them isn’t going to involve legal jargon. Below are a few tips you can use when meeting with your personal injury lawyer in Fall River, MA.
Initial Personal Injury Consultation is Free
At Kevin P Landry Law Offices, we offer free initial consultations and the consultation can last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the details of your case. The consultation can either be via phone, skype, or in-person meeting.
We’ve had incidences where clients took so long to contact us because they felt intimidated. Speaking about a legal problem should not make you dread of speaking to a lawyer and any lawyer who makes you feel intimidated isn’t the right one for you.
You Shouldn’t Feel Obligated to Hire the First Fall River Personal Injury Lawyer You Talk To
You have a right to shop around and compare services before deciding which lawyer to hire. Any personal injury lawyer in Fall River who pressures you to work with them might not be a good fit for you or even the right person to work on your case. Below are a few factors that you should consider when shopping around for a lawyer:
- Their experience working with cases similar to yours
- If they have the capacity and resources to take on your case
- Their qualifications
- Their ratings
Narrate Your Story with Complete Honesty
The last thing you want is to start off your consultation by lying or omitting details that could be crucial to your personal injury case.
How to Tell You Have a Good Personal Injury Case?
An experienced personal injury lawyer in Fall River will identify three elements in your case:
1. Liability
This part is the most difficult to establish because it’s not always apparent who was in the wrong at the time of the accident.
2. Damages
Did you suffer any damages as a result of someone else’s negligence? If there were no damages you might not have a case. Damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
3. Collectability
Your Fall River personal injury lawyer might be able to prove liability and calculate damages but the defendant might not be financially able to compensate you because they do not have insurance or enough money. If your lawyer cannot prove one of the above, they will recommend you don’t file a lawsuit.
What Happens After You’ve Hired Your Personal Injury Lawyer in Fall River?
You’ve finally hired a Fall River personal injury lawyer you feel you’re compatible with and is the right one for your case so how do you become a good client to them?
Respond to their Requests
The same way you would like your lawyer to respond to you in a timely manner is the same way your personal injury lawyer would like you to respond to them. Don’t drag on your case by not picking your calls, and ignoring your emails and letters.
Don’t Skip Medical Appointments
The insurance adjuster is watching your every move regarding your personal injury claim. If you skip several medical appointments, they will assume your injuries were not serious and you deserve less compensation.
Respond to Discovery in a Timely Manner
If your lawyer decides to file for a personal injury lawsuit, they will send interrogatories to you sent to them by the defendant’s lawyer. Interrogatories are a series of written questions and document requests. If you do not want your case to be dismissed, you need to answer the interrogatories in a timely manner.
Your lawyer will help you prepare for your deposition by giving you guidance during the proceedings and even stepping in if the other side is badgering you. Always follow your lawyer’s advice.
Don’t Pester Your Fall River Personal Injury Lawyer
The ideal client for any lawyer is the one who lets the claims process follow through without calling or constantly messaging for updates. However, letting things play out may not be in your best interest at times and you have to speak up. Remember that it is your case and you deserve to be kept informed of what is happening.
