If you were involved in a car accident in Providence, Rhode Island, you are not alone. According to a report by the State of Rhode Island Department of Health, the number of car accident fatalities has been increasing since 2017. The good news is that the fatality rate is lower than the national rate.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you are considering consulting with an attorney, you might beunsure of what will happen during your free initial consultation.
Importance of a Free Initial Consultation
A free initial consultation is important in that it seeks to find out why you want help and what you hope the potential outcome will be. This is just how personal injury lawyers do business throughout the United States. The best part about initial consultations is that you won’t be obligated to retain your lawyer or to pursue a lawsuit.
It’s always advisable to have an initial consultation with several car accident attorneys before finally settling on one. Make sure you go with the one that you’re comfortable asking questions and they make you feel like you can trust them.
What Should You Bring to the Initial Consultation?
Evidence
Your lawyer will focus on details such as the injuries that you suffered as a result of the accident and the events that led up to the accident. You will therefore need to carry all medical records related to your accident and photos of the accident scene.
You should also obtain a copy of the police report. The police are usually required by law to write a report if someone has been injured or killed in the accident.
Additionally, if you took the contact information of the other driver, you should report that too.
Below is a list of all the documents you should bring with you:
- MRI and X-ray results
- Contact information of eye witnesses
- Photos of your injuries and the accident scene
- Notes you’ve been taking about your injuries
- Surgeon’s or doctor notes about your injuries
In short, the more information you bring with you, the better because this way, your consultation will be more accurate.
Be Wary of the Statute of Limitations
All legal cases have time limits including car accident cases. For various reasons you might not be able to pursue a legal case immediately following your car accident. If you reside in Providence, RI, is three years. If you plan to file for a wrongful death lawsuit, the statute of limitations is still three years.
You Should be Aware of the Damages Done to You
Damages resulting from car accidents can be multiple. They can include:
- Mental treatment
- Physical treatment
- Missed wages because of time off work due to your injuries
- Injuries that interrupt your social life
The good news is that you can seek monetary compensation for any of the above mentioned injuries. You should therefore bring a list of:
- The extent and type of injuries you suffered as a result of the accident
- The kind of medical treatment you received. This includes any surgeries you underwent, physical therapy, prescription medication or any kind of remodeling that you did to your home for consequences of the accident and so on.
- Future medical treatment if any
- Events that you had to cancel or missed due to the accident
- How your injuries affected your work or ability to perform your duties at work
- How your injuries affected your social life
- How your injuries affected your personal life
- How your injuries affected your family relationships
You Should be Ready to Talk About the Accident
Your car accident lawyer will want to hear your side of the story regarding the accident. They’ll want to hear you talk about your injuries and how they’ve affected you. Remember if your case goes to trial, the opposing attorney will try to find loopholes in your case.
Your attorney needs to ensure that your case is believable in the first place and the only way to do this is by assessing you and your case.
Be Ready to ask Questions
It’s important to ask your attorney questions so as to know if you have a case or not. More importantly, you should ask them how they expect to get paid. Most personal injury lawyers are paid on a contingency basis; meaning they only get paid once they secure compensation for you but it’s very important you find this information out from your attorney.
If you are a victim of a car accident within Providence, RI, you can get in touch with us by calling 401-751-0101 to book your free initial consultation.
