After being injured due to another party’s negligence, navigating the complex world of insurance claims and legal procedures can feel overwhelming. Victims often wait to call an attorney for many reasons, including concerns about costs. To help level the legal playing field, most personal injury attorneys advertise free, no-risk consultations, but what are the benefits of these meeting, and are they really free?
If you have been injured in a car accident, feel uncertain about pursuing a case, and want legal advice. our experienced car accident lawyers in Chattanooga is here to help. We offer free consultations to get you started. Our experienced attorneys have been helping car accident victims for decades, guiding them through the legal process and getting them the compensation they deserve. If we take on your case, there are no fees unless we win.
Schedule a free consultation today! (423) 396-0720.
How To Prepare for a Consultation
During a free consultation, you will generally have 30 minutes to an hour to address the details of your legal issue. The initial goal is to understand the strength of your case and if this is the right lawyer to represent your case. You should provide the lawyer with a clear story and relevant information to get the most useful evaluation and proper legal options. While you will not get detailed legal advice, the lawyer will do their best to point you in the best direction.
What you should bring to an initial consultation:
- Relevant Documents: Contracts, medical records, police reports, legal documents, and any paperwork related to your case (including insurance files). Bring a power of attorney form if you have an accompanying guest or have someone else representing you.
- Timeline and Key Dates: Prepare to provide a clear story of events related to your case and important dates, including relevant medical appointments or deadlines.
- Questions or Concerns: Write down any questions and your goals for the consultation and your case.
- Financial Information: Bring any financial information necessary for the case, including bills or personal discrepancies.
What Kind of Questions To Ask During A Free Consultation.
Free consultations are a great tool for those who do not know their next steps. To get the most benefits, prepare a list of questions addressing your legal concerns or any financial discrepancies. Consider whether the lawyer has experience dealing with cases like yours. Their case strategy is critical, as it indicates what to expect during the legal service.
During a consultation, the lawyer probably will not unveil a detailed plan, as the initial consultation traditionally only provides general answers and advice. But a good lawyer should be able to show that they know the proper steps to take to ensure you get compensation. It is important to understand what makes your case viable, weak, or even invalid; understanding your case’s advantages and disadvantages gives you leverage during negotiation and in court.
How To Choose a Lawyer to Represent You.
The consultation is not just about evaluating the validity of your case but also determining whether the lawyer is a good fit to represent your case.
What you should think about when choosing a lawyer:
- Experience: There are several practices in the legal field, so you should find a lawyer whose practice is relevant to your case. Finding a lawyer with experience in both your area of practice and similar cases is crucial when selecting legal representation.
- Finances: Legal assistance comes at a price, so knowing what and how you will be charged for their services is important to building a relationship with your lawyer.
- Communication Style: Communication is a fundamental part of the legal process. You should understand how to contact your lawyer with updates or questions, their response time, and whether you feel like a priority during the legal process. A good lawyer should be able to explain legal concepts without jargon.
- Compatibility: You also have to be aware of personality and if you feel comfortable speaking with them and bringing up concerns or potential personal statements that might arise. If something does not feel right, it is okay to keep looking.
Understanding How Your Lawyer Will Charge You
As a victim looking to gain financial compensation for your case, it is important that you also understand what exactly you will end up paying for your legal assistance at the finalization of your case.
Here are some ways that a lawyer might charge:
Hourly Rate
When hiring an hourly lawyer, they will charge you for the time they spend solving your case. It is important to consider whether you have a particularly complex case or feel like you will have a lot of meetings or phone calls, as those count as billable time.
Retaining Fees
Along with hourly pay, some lawyers may charge a retainer fee at the beginning of the service to cover a set amount of hours. The retainer fee is held in a separate account that the lawyer is paid from; however, if the retainer fee is expended you will have to pay the remaining billable time.
Flat Fee
Lawyers who work a flat fee will traditionally charge ahead of service.
Contingency Fee
Common in personal injury, contingency fees are based on whether the attorney wins the case. If the attorney wins the case, they will keep a percentage of the court-awarded winnings. The percentage that a lawyer will keep should be discussed within the consultation or before proceeding with legal services.
Negotiable Fee
Flexible lawyers are willing to negotiate depending on the case. This is traditionally for noncomplex cases that don’t require much involvement. This is important because you could potentially ask your lawyer to bill at minute intervals if you want to speak on the phone or only meet briefly.
Do You Need a Free Consultation After an Injury? Call Massey & Associates
A free consultation offers viable legal options at no risk to you. Assessing whether a particular lawyer or firm is the right fit to represent your case is an invaluable tool for navigating the legal process. They provide advice and a second opinion on how to make informed decisions on your potential case.
At Massey & Associates, we encourage you to call our trusted law firm. Our lawyers have years of experience and a history of securing favorable outcomes for our clients. We deeply committed to holding at-fault parties accountable for their negligence and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Experienced lawyers fighting for you. Call (423) 396-0720 today.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
