CARDON GOODMAN, P.C.

Car Accidents & What You Should Bring to Your First Attorney Meeting
by David A. Cardon, Esquire

Dear Mr. Cardon,
I was in a car accident and have scheduled an appointment to meet with an attorney. What should I expect from the initial attorney meeting? Should I bring anything with me?

Mr. Cardon replies:
Every law firm is different and depending on where you go, you can expect different things from your initial attorney meeting. Before you schedule a meeting with an attorney, you may want to ask the attorney the following questions:

Who will I be meeting with? Some attorneys do not meet with you until after a paralegal has first met you and evaluated your case. If you do not want to meet with someone other than the attorney, make sure you ask about the procedure for that particular firm before you schedule a meeting.

Is there a fee for the initial attorney meeting? Most attorneys do not charge a fee for an initial client meeting when the case involves a personal injury claim. However, to be sure, you should ask if the firm charges a fee before scheduling a meeting.
 

What should I bring to the meeting? The attorney you will be meeting with should be able to tell you what he or she would like for you to bring to the initial meeting. If you are unable to talk to the attorney before the initial meeting, as a general rule, an attorney will need the following items to evaluate your case at your initial meeting:

• Police accident report and/or information exchange sheet. If a police officer was called to the scene of the accident, and the damage to the vehicles is estimated to be over $500 and/or there is a personal injury, the police officer will most likely file an accident report. The police officer will not give you a copy of the report at the scene, but you should write down the officer's name and precinct number so that your attorney can request a copy of the accident report later. You will probably receive an accident information sheet that tells you the other driver's name, address, and automobile insurance information. If a police officer is not called to the scene, make sure you have the other driver's name, address, social security number, automobile insurance information, and license plate number before you leave the scene of the accident. Also, if you were charged with violating a traffic law, be sure to bring a copy of the ticket with you and show the attorney.

• List of Witnesses. Bring a list of any witnesses to the accident with their phone numbers and addresses. This includes anyone who may have been a passenger in any of the cars involved in the collision.

• Written Summary of What Happened. Before you visit with an attorney, write down details of the events that occurred before, during, and after the accident. Be sure to include information about where you were going, who you were with, the time of day, whether or not you had your headlights turned on, the road and weather conditions, what happened to your body during impact, and anything anyone said before, during, or after the accident.

• Photographs. Bring any photographs you have showing any damage to any vehicles involved in the accident. If you have the time, take pictures of the accident scene. This is especially helpful if there is visible damage to the road (i.e. skid marks, damage to trees, signs or poles next to the road.) Also, be sure to take photographs of any physical injuries you sustained as a result of the accident.

• Your Health Insurance Policy. Bring a copy of your health insurance policy or health insurance ID card.

• Your Automobile Insurance Policy. Bring a copy of your automobile insurance policy, including the declaration page. The declaration page will tell the attorney the type of insurance you have on your vehicle. If you were a passenger, bring in the automobile insurance policy for the person who owns the car.

• Your A.A.A. Card. If you are a member of American Automobile Association (AAA), bring your membership card. Depending on your membership, you might be entitled to benefits that can be helpful in your personal injury case.

• Your Medical/Medication Information. If you went to the hospital or to a doctor or any other health care professional, bring in copies of receipts and information concerning who treated you, and when and where they treated you. If a doctor prescribed medication, bring copies of the receipts for the medication.

DISCLAIMER: David A. Cardon is an attorney at the Virginia Beach office of Cardon and Goodman, P.C. who concentrates his legal practice in traffic, criminal, and personal injury law. Mr. Cardon provides the materials contained above as a public service and on an informational basis only. These materials are not intended to be a comprehensive statement of Virginia law, and are not intended to convey legal advice. If you have a legal problem, you should consult with an attorney in your area who can investigate the particular circumstances of your situation. You can contact David Cardon, Esquire at (757) 306-9060 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .