If you or someone you love is considering a personal injury claim, talking with an experienced attorney is one of the first things you should do. Insurance companies care about their bottom line, not your legal rights. There’s too much at stake and it’s hard to find answers and accountability on your own.
However, with piling medical bills, missed work, and reduced mobility, time and money are frequently in short supply for crash victims. If you’re going to work with an attorney, you want to know you’re making a good decision, and that the outcome will be worth it.
Most personal injury attorneys, including those at Crosley Law, offer free consultations for people who need legal aid after a car crash or other injury event. But what does that really mean? What’s included? And is there a catch?
In this article, we’ll uncover the truth behind free consultations and help you prepare for your first meeting with an attorney.
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What is the purpose of a free consultation with a lawyer?
There are a few primary objectives of a personal injury consultation:
1. Evaluate the merits of your case
Determining whether you have a valid personal injury lawsuit is a complex process. To have a good case, you generally need:
- Reasonably clear evidence that someone else was at fault for you getting hurt.
- Strong evidence that the injuries, missed work, and pain and suffering you’ve experienced are (1) significant and (2) directly caused by the crash or incident.
- At least one responsible party (or parties) capable of paying your claim. For example, in a car crash case, compensation typically comes from insurance companies—the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and, if necessary, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If there’s little-to-no insurance coverage available, and the person who injured you has no assets, then your ability to get compensation will be very limited no matter how severe your injuries are.
You and your lawyer will discuss facts surrounding the injury, who was at fault, and how your life has been affected. Although you won’t necessarily get a clear-cut answer of what the outcome will be, an experienced lawyer should be able to give you:
- An overview of the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
- A general idea of how likely you are to win your case.
- A range of potential settlement values typical for cases like yours.
2. Get legal information and unbiased advice
During the consultation, the attorney will provide an overview of your legal rights and what your options are. Your attorney can also explain the entire personal injury claim process, including filing deadlines, required documents, steps in a lawsuit, the possibility of going to trial if you can’t agree on a settlement, and other legal matters.
We strongly believe this kind of fundamental legal information should be accessible to everyone, free of charge or obligation. Even if we don’t end up working together, we are happy to provide our unbiased legal advice about what we think your next steps should be.
2. Decide whether to begin an attorney-client relationship
If your lawyer believes that you have a good case, the next step is determining whether both you and the attorney wish to continue working together.
Understand that you might be working with your personal injury attorney for months or even years, so you should take this decision seriously. Even if the lawyer is willing to take your case, the free consultation is also an opportunity for you to decide whether the lawyer’s communication style, personality, and experience are a good fit for your needs, too.
How to prepare for your legal consultation
Before you meet with an attorney for your free initial consultation, you want to be sure you have everything you’ll need. Gather your evidence, provide information about your insurance claim, write down questions, and get ready to answer any questions the attorney may have for you.
Although the consultation is a first step, it will inform your next legal decision. You want to be sure you get the most out of your time with the injury lawyer.
Research your attorney beforehand
Free consultations have no obligations, but you still don’t want to waste your time unnecessarily. Do some preliminary research before you meet.
First, try to find out if the attorney is a good fit for your type of case. For example, many personal injury lawyers handle car crash cases, but not all lawyers can litigate big trucking cases or have much experience representing people suffering from brain injuries. As best as you can, make sure the attorney you’re meeting with has handled cases like yours before.
You should also look up the attorney’s track record. How many Google reviews do they have? (As of this writing, our law firm has more than 260 reviews with a 5.0 average.) Many attorneys also publish information about the largest settlements they’ve obtained, as well as detailed client success stories online. You can find ours here.
See if you can find out whether your attorney routinely takes cases to trial. While it’s true that most personal injury lawsuits settle before trial, a lawyer with a track record of success in front of juries will typically have greater negotiating leverage against an insurance company.
Be ready to answer questions about your case
An attorney will ask many detailed questions during your consultation. If you feel you may have a hard time recalling some finer points under pressure, write down your story beforehand to be sure you give them all the information they need.
Here are some questions an attorney may ask during your free consultation:
- How, where, and when did your accident happen?
- How serious are your injuries? How did they occur?
- Were there any witnesses at the scene? Did you get their information, if so?
- Did you have anyone with you at the time of the accident? If yes, who?
- Did you file a police report?
- Have you received medical attention?
- Did you file an insurance claim?
- Did you get the other party’s insurance information?
- What other details can you remember?
Bring evidence you have available
Any physical evidence that you gather will only help to support your honest answers to these questions, so be sure to bring any proof you may have. An experienced lawyer will use this information to help you understand your case most accurately and explain how you can get justice.
You don’t necessarily need to bring a mountain of documents with you to your initial case review. However, certain documents and evidence can be extremely helpful. Consider bringing:
- Contact information for involved parties and witnesses
- Photos of the crash site and your injuries
- A copy of the police report, if you have it
- Copies of medical bills and medical records
- Income statements that would support your claim for lost wages
- Any written communication you’ve had with the insurance company
Have your own legal questions ready for the attorney
Although you’ve already done your preliminary research, use this opportunity to learn more about the lawyer’s practice areas, experience, and legal approach. Consider indirect factors that may affect your decisions as well, such as speed of communication, after-hours communication, and their law firm’s culture and policies.
Some questions you may consider asking during your free consultation are:
- How long have you practiced law in this area?
- How many cases have you handled like mine?
- Do you take cases like mine to trial?
- Who will be working my case?
- How often can I expect updates on my case?
- What’s the best way to contact you if I have a question, and when can I expect a response?
- What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
- How long will my case take to resolve?
- What legal strategies would you use?
- Do you think this case will settle or go to trial?
- What size settlement could I be entitled to?
- What is your fee structure?
The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of your free consultation. Ensuring you have the answers you need before choosing legal representation will determine your success and comfort moving forward.
Free consultation FAQs
Are free consultations confidential?
Yes. Consultations are covered by attorney-client privilege, whether you end up hiring the lawyer or not. During the meeting, be as honest as possible about your case. The more open you are, the more accurately both you and your attorney can determine whether you are a good fit for each other.
One of the benefits of a free consultation is that it removes much of the pressure associated with a paid visit. These meetings carry no obligation and give you the freedom to pick and choose as you please. If you are feeling stressed, be sure to share this with your attorney, as they will work with you to make the process more manageable.
Do all lawyers offer free consultations?
Although many lawyers offer free legal consultations, some may charge you a consultation fee before taking your case. This is a red flag—very few legitimate, established personal injury law firms will charge you for a case evaluation.
Be sure to double check what your chosen law firm’s fee policy is before agreeing to meet. Not all attorneys follow our no fee policy, and you don’t want any unwanted surprises during or after your meeting.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
Most personal injury law firms (including Crosley Law) charge a contingency fee, meaning their attorney fee will be a percentage of the final settlement or jury award if you win. If you don’t win your case, you do not owe any attorney fees. (This is quite different from attorneys in other disciplines such as business or family law, who might charge a flat rate, hourly fee, or ask for a retainer.)
That said, make sure you understand the precise terms of your prospective lawyer’s fee agreement. For example, it’s not uncommon for lawyers to charge a different contingency fee percentage if they have to file a lawsuit. And different lawyers take different approaches to how they handle case costs (like expert witness and filing fees).
The last thing you need after an injury is to worry about the cost of legal help. That’s why Crosley Law follows a no fee policy with all their clients. We don’t get paid unless you win, plain and simple. We follow this policy to make sure anyone has access to legal help, regardless of their financial status.
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Crosley Law: Helping Texas Accident Victims Fight Back
Don’t let financial worries prevent you from getting the help you deserve. At Crosley Law, we offer free consultations so you can get answers for any of your legal questions or concerns. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys in San Antonio has a reputation for getting our clients the compensation they deserve by any means.
If you’d like to learn more about our history of success and approach to car accident cases, call Crosley Law at 210-LAW-3000 | 210-529-3000 or fill out our brief contact form.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
