When going to a personal injury attorney for an initial consultation you should ideally bring along any document or evidence you think is relevant to the case. As far as the first consultation goes, more is better. After evaluating all the documents, the attorney will let you know which documents are important and what is not relevant. Depending on the specifics of the case, the list of documents can vary. However, some documents are common for almost all personal injury cases. Here’s a brief document checklist if you are planning to go to a personal injury attorney for a consultation.
Police Report
Police reports are public records available to both the defendant and the prosecutor. Police reports are drafted by officers responding to the incident. It’s also not uncommon for the police to create an accident reconstruction document with the help of the initial report submitted by the responding officer. Typically, you need to get a hold of the police report before the consultation.
Payslip Indicating Payloss
Did the injury cause you to miss work and in turn lose money? Bring along your payslip indicating the payloss resulting from your leave of absence. If you run a business and you had to close your office or shop, bring your income proof. This will help the attorney to deduce how much you could have made for all the days the business remained closed.
Documentation of Every Correspondence with the Other Party
Oftentimes Emails and letters start getting exchanged way before lawyers come into the picture. It’s not uncommon for the other party to try and offer a deal for an out-of-court settlement. They may even send you a communication challenging your claims. Bring along any and every Email, text, or letter you received from other party or anyone representing them. Also, don’t forget to bring the copy of any responses you might have given from your end.
Receipts of Expenses Resulting from the Accident
If you were involved in a car accident and your car or any other property got destroyed as a result, you can claim the amount. The cost of repairing or replacing any damaged items or components needs to be presented along with receipts.
Accident Report
As soon as you arrive at the hospital or any professional healthcare facility, they are going to prepare a report based on initial observation. This is prepared after the initial physical exam and speaking with the patient. This report is usually called an accident report. This is a vital document and you should speak to the hospital authorities and get a copy during discharge.
Medical Record and Hospital Discharge Summary
When you are in a hospital every medical step taken is recorded. Create a file specifically for the medical records that show the course of medical treatment pursued in order to treat the injury. These documents often help provide credibility to the extent of your injuries and can help you secure a better compensation.
Insurance Documents and Correspondence
Bring along your health insurance and auto insurance (if you were in your car when the accident happened) documents. The personal injury lawyer may help you with the insurance claim as well as use these to prepare the case. Any correspondence with the insurance company that is relevant to the incident should also be carried along.
