Assessing Your Case

Whether you had a fender-bender or were part of a huge pileup you may need the assistance of an experienced attorney to properly resolve your claims or to defend yourself against accusations that arise in the aftermath of an accident. There are some simple considerations that can help ensure that you get the most out of your attorney's representation. When you meet with an attorney to discuss your accident you should be prepared to give them the information necessary to make a preliminary assessment of your case's merits. You should first be prepared to discuss the incident in detail.

What Happened?

Your discussion with an attorney should include all of the information needed to understand the situation. This includes the condition of the road, the weather, the time of day, the exact location of the accident, a description of the other people and cars involved, and a description of the accident itself. This information will help determine who is likely to be blamed for the accident and whether there may be defenses that will be invoked by the negligent party.

Before leaving the scene of the accident you should collect the license plate numbers, driver's names, addresses, insurance information, and telephone numbers for all other vehicles involved in an accident. You should collect the license and owner information for any animal involved. You should also collect the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any potential witnesses.

Who is to Blame?

You should also inform your attorney if the police were called on the scene, whether a police report was filed, and if traffic violations were issued to any of the involved parties. The attorney will also want to know if an ambulance or other emergency response teams came to the scene, whether photographs were taken, and if television or other news crews were on the scene.

The identity and contact information of witnesses is also helpful. This information helps determine whether it will be easy or difficult to establish that your version of events took place, or if another party is likely to prevail in advancing their story.

How Much Damage?

Finally, there is evidence that will impact the amount likely to be recovered. This includes information about any medical treatment received, x-rays or other scans, hospitalization, follow-up treatment, and diagnosis. Assessments of property damage, repair estimates, and other documents that calculate your financial loss may also be useful.