As Brampton personal injury lawyers know from their experience in dealing with numerous clients, the initial, first interaction with the client can often set the tone for the relationship. It’s when people have suffered injuries of various kinds – physical, financial and emotional – that they approach a personal injury lawyer. For many, it’s the first time they’re meeting a lawyer professionally.

Purpose of Initial Interviews

Personal injury lawyers provide an initial, free, no-obligations first interview, to evaluate/assess the case from a professional standpoint. They can gather enough information to understand:

• the nature of the claim
• circumstances under which the injury happened
• impact on the client’s life and family
• merits and demerits
• chances of a successful outcome

The other important purpose from the lawyer’s or law-firm’s point of view is to “sell” their services to the client so that they are retained in the case.

From the client’s side, this interview is equally crucial, since they have approached the lawyer in a state of emotional distress or difficulty and want to seek compensation. Clients are also intimidated by the legal process or what they’ve gathered about it from film, television and the print media.

Clients may have concerns about their chances of success, legal costs, possible outcomes, how long the process would take and what exactly they have to go through. They also want to tell their side of the story.

Prepare For The Interview

It’s important that both lawyers and clients are prepared for these interviews, so that it proves fruitful and successful. Since experienced personal injury lawyers meet with clients regularly, they have a standard process of information gathering and interviewing the client.

Clients need preparation before they arrive for the first meeting.

1. Clearly write down/type out your personal details: Name, Age, Address, E-mail, telephone numbers including whom to contact in case you cannot be reached.
2. Family details: spouse, children, parents etc along with a clear photograph of yourself
3. Nature of accident
4. Date, time and location of accident
5. Copies of photographs, videos, etc of the accident if available
6. Contact details of witnesses if any, if available
7. Complete details of all insurance policies held by yourself and family members who reside at the same address as you, including home-owner’s policies. A photocopy of each of these can be provided.
8. Copies of any documents in connection with the case: medical bills, doctor’s prescriptions, police records, bills detailing other expenses in connection with this accident
9. List of injuries and damages to property
10. List of all doctors and therapists, medical facilities, pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, ERs, labs, etc that you have attended in connection with this case.
11. List of all prior injuries and illnesses that you have had, including any prior claims made. Dates and where and when you availed treatment should be provided. All this information will be brought up in the case, so ensure that it’s accurate and honest.
12. If you’re seeking representation on behalf of an organization or corporation, the complete details should be provided. It’s important that you clarify for the lawyer who exactly the client is in this case.

This information can help you and our 24×7 injury lawyers to move forward in the case more smoothly and swiftly.