Speaking with a Monmouth County Personal Injury Lawyer

Understand the basics and get started

Being injured in a serious accident is a traumatic life experience. At the West Long Branch law offices of Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh, we hope to alleviate some of the stress involved with the experience by informing our clients as to what they should expect when reaching out to a personal injury lawyer for the first time.

Whether your personal injury claim is a result of a car accident, construction accident, poorly maintained and unsafe premises, dangerous and defective products, pedestrian accidents, or a slip and fall, the initial consultation with an attorney is largely the same.

Scheduling a Consultation

On your initial call, you will be asked to provide a brief description of your accident and injuries, and will then schedule a consultation with a lawyer to discuss the many aspects of your case. This consultation may take place in a law office, over the phone, or in some cases in the hospital where care is being provided. The consultation should be seen as a chance to evaluate your lawyer. Do you think they have a good understanding of the law and your case? Are they willing to put in the effort required to properly litigate your case? Most consultations are free, and it is important to remember that you have not committed to anything beyond speaking with a lawyer to discuss your case. If you don’t feel comfortable with them you are free to seek consultations elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the lawyer or lawyers you speak with will want to ask as many questions about your case as possible. The more detail you can provide for them, the more informed a recommendation they can give you. With this in mind, it is important to bring as much documentation as you can about your accident to this meeting. This can include insurance policy information, any medical bills associated with your injury, police reports when applicable, any photos you may have taken, and contact information for any witnesses to your accident. Photos, in particular, are an excellent resource for helping to detail the extent of the accident and may reveal critical evidence pertaining to your accident claim.

Follow-up Questions

Beyond these important documents, you will often be asked who you may have spoken to regarding your accident. Did you speak with insurance adjusters, the police, or anyone else? What was said during these conversations? Additionally, you will probably be asked follow-up questions regarding your medical care. What further treatment might you need beyond what you have already received? How are you feeling, both emotionally and physically, after your accident, can you enjoy the standard of living you were accustomed to prior to your accident, have your injuries affected your ability to work and enjoy time with your family and friends? All of these questions are important to determine the extent of your claim, and the extent of the negligence involved in your accident.

Working on Contingency

You may also have questions for your lawyer, including a question about payment. Many people worry that they won’t be able to afford to pay expensive law fees, especially on top of mounting medical costs, but the good news is that most personal injury attorneys take cases on contingency. This means that you will not be expected to pay any legal fees upfront, only when (and if) you are awarded a settlement for your injuries. Hiring a lawyer who works on contingency allows victims to seek fair compensation for the harm they have suffered without having to worry about the cost involved with drawn-out battles with insurance companies.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what to expect when reaching out to a personal injury lawyer.

Contact a Long Branch NJ Accident Attorney Today for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been injured because of the carelessness or recklessness of another party, the Law Firm of Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh is ready to help you seek compensation for your accident. Please do not hesitate to contact us online or by phone 732-440-3950 at our West Long Branch offices today to discuss your case.