When you first go in to meet with your car accident attorney for an initial consultation, you can bet that they are going to ask you a series of questions to figure out what it is that you are dealing with. By being prepared for what the lawyer is going to need to know, you can get the maximum amount of benefits from your meeting. To make sure you aren’t thrown off guard when you meet with the lawyer, here are a few questions that your attorney might ask.

When did the accident take place?

One of the first questions your attorney is going to ask is when the accident occurred. This one should be fairly simple to answer. You just need to give them the date and time of the incident. If you have a hard time remembering things, you might want to write down dates in a notebook that you can take with you.

How did the accident happen?

The next question the attorney will ask is how the accident happened. Try to give them as many supporting details as you can. Depending on how severe the accident was, you might need to have an expert recreate the accident scene. Even if you don’t think a detail is important, you should still give it to your lawyer. Let them determine what information they need and what information they don’t, draw pictures if you need to. Do whatever you have to just to make sure your attorney has as much information as possible.

Do you have a police report?

Did you call the police department to the scene of the accident? If so, you should be able to get a copy of the police report. Look it over and see what it says. Make sure that report clearly identifies the other party as the responsible party.

Did the other party admit fault?

If the other person admitted that they were the one to blame for the accident, that is all the better for your case. If the police report clearly identifies that the other person is the one to blame, that is all the better for your case.

When and where did you seek medical treatment for your injuries? How did you get there?
You need to give your attorney the exact location of the treatment facility. Whether it be a hospital or your regular doctor’s office, you need to provide them with an exact name of the location. If you drove yourself there, so be it. If you went by ambulance, you need to let your attorney know that as well. Be as specific as you can when it comes to the details of when you got treated for your injuries.

Did you have x-rays or an MRI done? What did the reports say?

If you had any diagnostic tests done, you need to let your attorney know that. All of these tests are crucial to the outcome of your case. Oftentimes, these tests are done at follow-up visits, so make sure to get complete copies of your medical records for your attorney.

Do you have a list of your injuries?

Your personal injury lawyer is going to need an extensive list of all your injuries. Regardless of how small or insignificant you might think your aches and pains are, you need to let your attorney know about it all. They need to know all of the details about your injuries and how you are feeling. Your attorney shouldn’t ever have to guess about how your foot is feeling or whether your back is in pain. If it is something that you are discussing with your doctor and undergoing treatment for it, your attorney should know about it.

Do you think there are any permanent conditions from the accident? If so, what are they?
Your opinion is extremely important. While it might not be a medical opinion, it is a valid opinion. If you feel that your pain or injuries isn’t getting any better and you think it might be permanent, you need to let your lawyer know that you are evaluating your options with your doctor.

Do you know what the policy limits are for the person who hit you?

Even though your case might be worth $1,000,000, you aren’t going to be able to get that if the other person only has enough coverage for $50,000 to be paid out. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot you can do in this situation.

Does your current policy have underinsured motorist coverage on it?

Many people are underinsured today. Make sure you bring copies of your own insurance policy with you when you meet with your attorney.

These questions will likely come up when meeting with the attorney, so you want to make sure you are as prepared as possible beforehand.