September 21, 2020
What Documents Should I Bring to My Initial Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer?
By Jonathan Damashek
Posted in
A car accident is hardly at the top of the list of anyone’s favorite activities, and who can blame them? Between establishing negligence, hiring a competent personal injury lawyer, and worrying about your own physical recovery, there’s a lot of balls to keep in the air. On top of this, you’ll also need to prepare for your first consultation with your attorney–but do you have everything you need to bring?
Anyone who’s spent five minutes in New York traffic knows how treacherous it can be. Before you know it, you could wind up pretzeled between speedy taxis and ambling cyclists. Here at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C., we use our knowledge of local traffic laws and native understanding of neighborhood routes to put ourselves in your shoes and fiercely advocate for what you deserve. If you’ve been involved in a New York City car accident, give us a call at (212) 490-5700 to schedule a free consultation.
What Happens at My First Consultation?
You may initially meet with your attorney via phone, zoom, or in-person. First, you’ll give them the facts of your case and a list of any damages you’ve sustained. Next, you’ll be asked some follow-up questions, mostly in regards to you and the other driver’s insurance companies. However, these questions can also extend to whether you’ve spoken to anyone else about the accident (e.g., family, friends, anyone else involved in the accident, etc.) or if there were any witnesses to the accidents.
One word of advice for the uninitiated: don’t be afraid to share all the nitty-gritty details of your case. A lot of first-time legal help seekers are reluctant to share the entirety of their story, out of fear that they might not find any attorney who’s willing to take their case. However, this kind of transparency is best early on, as anything you’re covering up will inevitably come out at some point. Save both you and your attorney the hassle by being totally forthcoming about the details of your case; even if you don’t hire them, the details of your free consultation will still be protected by attorney-client privilege.
What Do I Need to Bring to My First Consultation?
The best client to have is a prepared client, and in a car accident case, you’ll definitely need to stay organized by having all your files on hand at your first consultation. Here’s a list of some things you’ll need to bring with you:
- Case ID or police report number
- Photos of the vehicle (if applicable)
- The police department that investigated the accident
- Social security number
- Driver’s license
- Your car and health insurance information
- The other driver’s license and insurance information
- The other driver’s license plate number
- A copy of the vehicle title (if it’s totaled)
- Vehicle repair costs or estimates
- Any paperwork related to your medical care
- Both you and the other driver’s contact information (i.e., addresses, phone numbers, emails, etc.)
- Your employer’s contact information
- Any medication receipts
- Any document of paperwork proving the damages you sustained in the accident
Of course, this is just a list of several of the most common pieces of information you’ll have to provide at your first consultation. If you’re curious of the full list of items, contact your attorney and ask them what exactly it is you’ll need to prepare ahead of time and bring to your initial consultation.
How Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. Can Assist You
If you’ve been a car accident victim in New York City, you understand how exhausting it is trying to sort out medical bills, alternate transportation methods, and insurance claims. But our team of experienced and empathetic personal injury lawyers knows New York City traffic laws and we use this knowledge to help our clients reclaim what’s rightfully theirs–both in damages and dignity. Call us at (212) 490-5700 today to learn more about how we can best serve you.