When you first call our law firm, your call will be taken by a lawyer. The lawyer will ask you for basic contact information, as well as the details of your accident. Based on your answers, a lawyer will make an initial assessment of your case and may schedule a consultation. If you cannot travel to the law firm, we are willing to have the consultation on the telephone, or meet you in your home or at the hospital. At our firm, we make every effort to accommodate clients and potential clients with this type of need.

During the initial consultation, you will be asked for details about your accident and your injuries. Because details can be hard to remember, and because some clients feel intimidated or stressed by this meeting, we recommend that clients bring all of the documents they have that are related to the accident - things like police reports, hospital bills, and your insurance policy. We always do our best to put clients at ease and explain everything as thoroughly as possible, without "legalese."

Questions the lawyer is likely to ask at your consultation include:

Once you have discussed your claim, the lawyer should explain his fees. Most personal injury lawyers work on what is called a contingency-fee basis. This means that you are not required to pay for legal services unless and until the case has been won. The lawyer should have a fee agreement that specifies that he will be paid with a percentage of the financial settlement or verdict. (It is possible, and common, to resolve claims before filing; see Chapter Four for more.)

This arrangement may sound strange, but it remains popular because it allows lawyers to take strong cases brought by clients who might not be able to otherwise afford legal fees. We believe this is an essential and valuable part of our legal system, providing access to justice for everyone, no matter what their income or background might be.