Personal Injury Lawyer – What to Expect When You Meet With One

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Personal Injury Lawyer What to Expect When You
Meet With One
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Need to meet with a personal injury lawyer?
Heres what you can expect from the initial
process and its easier than you
thinkPersonal injury lawyers are often
portrayed as aggressive and intimidating fast
talkers. This reputation isnt helped by the
hundreds of radio TV ads we experience on
behalf of the big downtown firms.
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So I understand that it can be an exercise in
patience to contact a personal injury lawyer to
find out if you have a case.I wanted to walk you
through the steps that are involved so that you
know exactly what to expect, and I also have a
few pointers on what to watch for when you meet
with a personal injury lawyer whether it be here
in Hamilton or downtown Toronto.
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The Intake CallI am considered a small firm.
Basically, theres me and a few clerks who help
me. When you call (or email) me, you are
connected to a clerk.Its the clerks job to get
the details of your case over the phone. If you
call, they will start asking questions right away
(they are actually filling out a form that they
will give to me after.) If you email, they will
call you back to gather this info.
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You can always expect this person to ask you a
lot of question and, please, be up front when
answering. Were asking you to see if we can help
you, so the more info you can provide, the
better.For example, well ask things like your
name, address, age, the kind of case, who is at
fault, how the accident happened, if the police
came, if youve seen a doctor, etc. Well want to
know how your injury has impacted your life e.g.
can you work, can you look after you family, etc.
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Finally, well want to know a bit about your
insurance and whether or not youve applied for
benefits.You can expect this initial
conversation to take 30-45 minutes at least. The
better the firm, the more thorough these
questions will be.This intake call is always
free for me. I cant speak for other personal
injury lawyers, but Id be surprised if they
charged you for it.
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Next Step The ConsultationFollowing the intake
call, I will personally read through the report
and determine if I can help you. If Im fairly
confident that I can, I will set up an in-person
consultation.An in-person consultation is a good
thing. It means that, at least on the surface, I
think you may have a strong case and I want to
explore it with you.
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During the free consultation, I will gather
missing pieces of information so that I can 
gauge the strength of your case.Be prepared for
questions about your injuries, your psychological
state, your job, your medical coverage, etc.
These consultations are usually longer- at least
an hour and they should be treated like a
conversation with your favourite confident over
coffee or tea.
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There is no judgment or commentary believe me
Ive been in this industry a long time and Ive
seen lots of good people get into tough
situations. Whatever situation youre facing, I
promise you You are not the first, and you are
not alone.Its important for clients to
understand that the consultation is as much for
them as for the lawyers. You need to feel 100
comfortable with whomever you retain.
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No matter which lawyer you see or the size of the
firm, they are going to ask questions. You should
ask questions too! This is YOUR life, and you
have a say, so make sure you feel good about the
person you meet with. If you dont, move on.
Dont question your instinct Trust it.Is Your
Free Consultation Really Free? I have a small
warning about those firms who advertise a free 30
or 60 minute consultation.
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Its very important that, if you meet with a
lawyer for a 30 or 60 minute free consult, you
ask if they charge you for going over that
time.Heres the thing 30 Minutes isnt a long
time for a consultation. In fact, my
consultations are only 30 minutes if I know I
cant help and usually because new info has
surfaced since your intake call. So make sure
that, if the lawyer spends 90 minutes with you,
youre not on the hook for that time.
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This is not a common practice, but I have seen it
on occasion, and enough to mention it.For me, I
never charge regardless of how long we
consult.What Happens if the Consult Goes
Downhill? Most personal injury lawyers only get
paid when a case goes through, so if they dont
feel they can help you early on, they usually
wont take your case.
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But there is a reason why therere so many lawyer
jokes out there Because were not
perfect!Always seek second and third opinions.
If youve been turned down by a big firm, try a
small firm, and vice versa. I promise you It
wont hurt my feelings and its always a good
idea.Some Final Points To Consider
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If I say I can help you, it means I truly believe
I can help you. I get paid when you get paid so
we are partners in your case.Youll always meet
with a team member in the intake process. My law
clerks are the very best, and this process is the
norm. The clerk you deal with should be kind and
patient, regardless of your situation.Having
said that, I am the only actual lawyer on your
team you will work with.  I dont delegate to the
juniors with no experience.
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Only work with a lawyer youre comfortable with.
If a firm wants to take your case, yet the
official lawyer only pops his or her head in to
say hello, thats a red flag. Your lawyer should
care enough to make time for you.Be prepared to
be forthcoming at every stage in the process. We
win together, we lose together. Honesty is
everything.
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If a firm turns down your case, get a second and
third opinion. If one lawyer turns down your
case, you may still have a case. If three lawyers
turn it down, you probably dont have a case. Be
sure before you give in.If you meet with a
lawyer for a free 30 minute consult, ask what
happens if you go over time before you begin.If
youre a bit nervous about starting the process,
youre not alone. Have questions? The comment
section below is a great place to start!
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http//derekwilsonlaw.ca