Preparing for a Free Consultation with a Rochester Car Accident Lawyer

Making sure you’re prepared for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer will have a direct impact on the quality and accuracy of your meeting. Our car accident lawyers at Horn Wright, LLP (take the time to obtain as much detail as possible about your case to give you the best advisement possible, while streamlining the process to minimize the impact on your life. Within minutes you can speak with one of our experienced car accident lawyers about your case to begin pursuing justice.

Why Should You Prepare For a Free Car Accident Consultation?

A free consultation will allow a car accident attorney to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case. It’s also a time for you to talk to the lawyer about his or her experience with cases like yours, their approach, and if they’re a good fit for your case. By coming prepared with documents related to your case and having an understanding of what the next steps are, you’ll have a much more in-depth conversation with the lawyer on your case. The better prepared you are, the more specific and detailed the attorney’s advice will be.

Expect the attorney to ask questions about how the car accident happened, what your injuries consisted of, and any details regarding your economic losses in terms of lost wages or medical bills. Rochester car accident attorneys are familiar with New York Vehicle and Traffic laws and insurance company tricks, so they’ll be able to give a general idea of the defendant’s liability and what the next steps are in setting up the various claims.

What Should I Bring to a Car Accident Lawyer Consultation?

Coming with documents in hand will make your consultation with a car accident lawyer flow much smoother. There’s technically no limit on what to bring but having some of the basic documents in the case will enable the lawyer to give you more accurate advisement. Here’s a list of key documents to bring:

• Police Report: the police report is the official record of your accident, and contains the date, time, location, parties involved, and any observations made by the responding officers. You’ll want to grab a copy of your police report from the Rochester Police Department or the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. A car accident lawyer will use the police report initially to establish the statute of limitations date, understand the basics of how the crash happened, and see if any citations were issued for traffic violations.
• Medical Records and Bills: Medical records and bills are a direct source for information on the severity of injuries and the treatments you received. Bring any records from hospitals, urgent care centers, specialists, physical therapists, or any other medical providers you’ve visited since the accident. Rochester hospitals like Strong Memorial and Highland Hospital will have detailed records beyond just the discharge summaries you are given when you leave, so make sure to request complete copies of your records. The most important records are your MRI reports, so make sure to include those as well.
• Insurance Policy Information: Your insurance policy information is incredibly important, as it gives the attorney the necessary information on the types of coverage you have and the limits of those coverages. A car accident lawyer will want to verify the amount of coverage you have for No-Fault benefits, the existence of any APIP or OBEL benefits, and the coverage limits of your Supplemental Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist coverage.
• Correspondence with Insurance Companies: If you received any letters in the mail, emails, or any calls from any insurance company you’ll want to bring those, or any notes about them, with you. Insurance companies are quick to contact car accident victims early, so a car accident lawyer will want to review any correspondence to make sure the insurance company didn’t attempt to take advantage of you waving your rights or making certain statements.
• Employment Records: If your injuries have prevented you from working, employment records will help begin painting a picture of your lost wages. Your lawyer will want to save recent pay stubs, tax returns, and other financial documents in your file to later prove how much income you’ve lost. Rochester attorneys use this information to calculate compensation for lost wages and, in severe cases, diminished earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous job in the same capacity as you did before.
• Photos and Videos: Photos and videos of the accident scene, your injuries, or the vehicles from the crash are powerful evidence in front of a jury. If you were able to get any photos of those things you want to bring them with you. Not only will this give context to the lawyer about the severity of the accident, but they can also save them in your file so there’s no chance you could later lose them.

What Questions Should You Ask During Your Car Accident Consultation?

Having questions in mind before you meet for a free car accident consultation will help streamline the meeting and get the most benefit. Focus on the attorney’s experience handling similar cases, how they approach car accident cases like yours, and what their estimate is of the overall time to resolve the case and expense.

“How Many Rochester Car Accident Cases Have You Handled?

Having experience handling car accident cases in Rochester matters. Local attorneys have direct experience in Monroe County Supreme Court, know local accident patterns and common accident scenarios, and the insurance company practices in Rochester. Ask about their experience with Rochester car accident cases and if they’ve handled claims involving similar injuries and facts as yours. 

“How Will You Handle My Car Accident Case?”

Being on the same page with your car accident attorney’s approach will align your expectations as you move forward. Ask about their plan to investigate the accident, how they collect evidence, and what their style is negotiating with insurance companies. This will help you understand their strategy to build your case and if their approach aligns with what you’re looking for in a car accident lawyer.

“What Kind of Compensation Can I Recover in a Car Accident Case?”

A car accident lawyer likely won’t be able to give a precise dollar amount during the first reason for a number of reasons. They can, however, discuss the different types of compensation typically sought in Rochester car accident claims. Car accident victims can recover compensation for medical expenses and lost wages from their No-Fault insurance, and pain and suffering and future expenses from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Ask the car accident attorney how these damages apply in your case and any limitations.

“How Do Attorneys’ Fees and Case Costs Work?”

Most Rochester personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if you win your case. Confirm the percentage they’ll take as a fee and any additional costs involved like court fees, expert witness expenses, or other disbursements for things like medical records.

What Will a Car Accident Lawyer Ask Me During a Free Consultation?

In addition to your questions, a Rochester car accident attorney will ask about details that will help them assess your case thoroughly. Be prepared to answer questions about the accident’s impact, your injuries, and any steps you’ve taken since the incident.

“Tell me how the car accident happened…”

The attorney will ask you to give as much detail about the accident as possible, from where it occurred, to how it happened, and the aftermath. They may ask for details about the specific location in Rochester where the car accident happened, road conditions, or traffic patterns at the time. 

“What injuries did you sustain in the car accident?”

A car accident attorney will want a full overview of your injuries, both injuries at the scene and injuries that have continued since the crash. Describe any pain, mobility issues, or symptoms that developed after the accident. Be as specific as you can, especially if you’ve had surgeries, therapy, or still dealing with chronic pain. This gives an idea of the severity of your injuries and provides a foundation for what your case might be worth.

“Tell me about your medical treatment after the car accident…”

Detail all medical treatments you’ve received since the car accident. Include visits to hospitals, specialists, physical therapists, and any ongoing care. Be ready to list out any prescribed medications, dates of physical therapy or chiropractic sessions, and definitely any and all surgeries or procedures. Make sure to disclose any MRI imaging you’ve had, as those reports are very important for a personal injury case.

“What conversations have you had with any insurance companies?”

You’ll want to let the car accident attorney know any and all communications  you’ve had with any insurance companies, and the substance of what was discussed. They’ll want to know if the insurance adjuster offered a settlement, obtained a recorded statement from you, or asked for you to provide copies of your medical records. This will help the car accident lawyer understand the status of your claim and whether the insurer has already started with deceptive tactics.

How Should You Organize Your Information For a Consultation?

Presenting your information in an organized, easy-to-follow format can streamline the consultation. Here are a few tips:

• Use a Folder or Binder: Bring all your documents in a folder or binder, separating each section of documents so they’re easy to access. Label sections for police reports, medical records, insurance information, and correspondence so they’re easy to grab during the consultation.
• Create a Timeline: Draft a timeline of events starting from the accident to your latest medical treatment. Write down any significant dates, such as hospital visits or time missed from work. A timeline helps the car accident attorney understand the timeline of your case.
• Prepare a List of Questions: Write down your questions in advance, prioritizing the questions that are most important to you. Having questions that you can reference will guarantee you’re able to address all your concerns during the consultation.

Contact Horn Wright, LLP, Today to Schedule a Free Consultation.

Having an in depth consultation with a car accident lawyer in Rochester provides you with the chance to discuss your case, explore your options, and select your counsel. Our attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, perform free consultations on all types of car accident cases, and have the experience of pinpointing the strengths and weaknesses in your case so you know from the outset. Just by picking up the phone and calling, you could be speaking with one of the best Rochester car accident lawyers to begin working on your case.