More Tips on how to prepare for a meeting with a personal injury lawyer!

The first meeting with a personal injury lawyer / accident lawyer is quite important. It sets the stage for your ongoing relationship. The more information and documents you bring the better and more productive the initial meeting will be. Your personal injury lawyer will appreciate any effort you make in providing a any important facts about the accident, your injuries and impact on your life and your family’s life.

If you have been injured in an accident such as a car accident, slip and fall, trip and fall or dog bite incident and have suffered injuries as a result, meeting with a personal injury and accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident is important. As an injured person, relevant legal knowledge can make the difference between obtaining fair compensation or obtaining no compensation at all. 
A personal injury and accident lawyer can provide you with all the information you need to make a decision on seeking compensation. Your personal injury lawyer will need to gather information and documents from you to assist them in representing your interests and maximizing your recovery. You should bring this information and documents with you when you meet your accident lawyer and continue to bring information and documents to your accident lawyer as the case progresses.

This brief article addresses the types of documents and information you generally should bring, if available, to an initial meeting with a personal injury lawyer / accident lawyer. The type of documents and information you bring will depend on the type of accident you were involved in and the nature and types of injuries you have suffered. In general terms, the following is a list of information and documents to bring to your initial meeting with a personal injury lawyer. Note again that you will likely have to bring additional documents and information to the attention of your personal injury lawyer as your case develops:

1. The date, time and location of the accident;
2. Names and addresses of anyone you believe may be responsible for the accident and liable to you for the accident;
3. Two pieces of identification such as a driver’s licence and social insurance card;
4. Your date of birth, municipal address and full contact particulars;
5. The names and dates of birth of your spouse and children as well as their addresses if different from yours; 
6. Copy of any applicable insurance policy such as vehicle insurance or home insurance;
7. The name and contact information of your own insurance agent, adjuster or any other insurance representative;
8. The name and contact information of the insurance agent, adjuster or any other insurance representative representing the person responsible for the accident;
9. Copies of any letters or other correspondence or documents exchanged to and from your insurance company, the other party’s insurance company or any other relevant insurance company, agent or adjuster;
10. Details of any oral or written statements you may have given to your insurance company or the other party’s insurance company;
11. Any other important dates and times such as the date and time of the accident;
12. The location of the accident;
13. Photographs of the accident site;
14. Photographs of any damage to your car or clothing or other personal or real property;
15. Photographs of your injuries;
16. The names and addresses of the hospital you were taken to immediately after the accident;
17. Confirmation of whether or not you were taken to hospital by ambulance;
18. Copy of any police report provided to you or alternatively if you were not given a police report, the police report or incident number;
19. Names and addresses of any health care provider that has provided care to you;
20. Names and addresses of any health care provider that will provide care to you in the future;
21. The dates that you were taken to any health care provider or hospital and reason for the visit;
22. The names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the incident;
23. Copies of any witness statements;
24. Full particulars of your employment or method of earning income such as a business income;
25. Details of all dates you were unable to work due to the accident and your injuries;
26. Details of any benefits you needed to take from work because of inability to work due to the accident and your injuries such as vacation and/or sick leave;
27. Details of any extended health care insurance you have through employment or independently that cover any medical expenses at all;
28. Details of any disability insurance (short term or long term) you have through employment or independently/privately;
29. Copies of any medical bills or invoices;
30. Copies of any bills or invoices for expenses you incurred because of the accident;
31. If your injuries were caused as a result of a car accident, bring any documents relevant to the accident such as any documents exchanged between you and the other drivers or victims and the police; 
32. Details of any information or documents you gave the police who attended at the accident;
33. Details of any information or documents you gave the police subsequent to the accident;
34. Details of any information or documents you gave to anyone who attended at the accident;
35. Details of any information or documents you gave to anyone subsequent to the accident;
36. Details of a any charges, tickets or fines given to you by police relating to the accident;
37. Details of a any charges, tickets or fines given to anyone else by police relating to the accident;
38. Copies of any other documents you believe may be relevant; 
39. A full written summary of the accident, persons involved and events since the accident such as visits with insurance companies, police, witnesses and health care providers; and
40. Details of any other information you believe may even remotely relevant.

This is not an exhaustive list and disclosure of relevant information and documents is an ongoing process since after an injury you will likely have ongoing relationships with insurers, health care providers and other third parties. The important thing to remember is that you should provide your personal injury lawyer with any information or documents you believe may be even remotely relevant and never delay in providing the disclosure. Your personal injury and accident lawyer can decide if the information or documents is relevant and useful.

For more information on how to facilitate your relationship with your Ottawa accident and personal injury lawyer, contact us at the Ottawa Personal Injury and Accident Lawyer Network by calling 613 315-4878 or 613-315-HURT or by e-mail at mquinn@ottawalawyers.com, visit us at www.ottawapersonalinjurylawyernetwork.com.