One of the most powerful tools available to someone who has been injured in a Florida bicycle accident is a consultation with a local injury attorney. At Harrell & Harrell, we know how important it is for injury victims to have accurate information before they make any decisions—and that includes the decision about which bicycle accident lawyer to hire. That’s why we offer free, no-obligation consultations.
Making the most of your consultation takes a little bit of preparation. The questions you’ll want to ask the attorney will generally fall into two categories: questions about your case, and questions about the attorney and our law firm. It’s a good idea to write down your questions before your consultation. You’ll likely have a lot to think about as you talk with the attorney, and you don’t want to remember after you leave the office or hang up the phone that you had another important question.
Questions for Your (Prospective) Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When you write down your list of questions, try to keep the wording brief, or use bullet points instead of full questions. You’ll want to be able to check your list at a glance as you go, to make sure that you’re covering all of your questions. As your consultation nears the end, don’t be afraid to stop and check your list. It’s easy to leave something out when you’re covering a lot of ground, and a quick review will help ensure that you don’t miss anything important.
Questions about Your Bicycle Accident Case
One key purpose of a free consultation is to get insight into whether you have a viable claim and what you can expect if you decide to move forward. Gathering that type of information starts with providing the attorney with information about your accident. That includes information like:
- How the bicycle accident happened
- Whether anyone was ticketed
- What type of injuries you sustained
- Whether you are still undergoing medical treatment
Then, the bicycle accident lawyer should be able to give preliminary answers to questions like:
- Do you think I have a claim against the driver who hit me?
- Do you see any potential problems with my case?
- Can you give me a general idea of what type of damages may be available and how much the case may be worth?
- How long does it usually take to resolve a case like mine?
Note that the information the bicycle accident lawyer offers at this stage is preliminary, and is based on the information you provide. If you decide to hire one of our accident attorneys, one of their first steps will be to investigate your case in more depth. You should also be aware that no lawyer can promise you a specific outcome in your case. It’s not possible, even for an experienced bicycle accident lawyer, because there are so many variables. And, lawyers in Florida aren’t allowed to claim they can guarantee a particular settlement or verdict.
Questions about the Lawyer and Law Firm
Most people who schedule a consultation are focused on questions about their cases. That’s important, but the consultation serves another important purpose: to help the injured person find the right lawyer. That means you should also be prepared to ask some questions about our lawyer’s experience, as well as how you will work with the firm if you decide to retain them. For example, you may want to ask:
- Whether the bicycle accident lawyer you are consulting with will be the one handling your case
- Whether the attorney and the firm focus specifically on personal injury cases or handle a wide range of case types
- How much experience the attorney has with bicycle accident cases
- How much experience the attorney has with related cases, such as other motor vehicle accident cases
- How many injury cases the bicycle accident lawyer has taken to trial
These experience-based questions are important, but they’re only part of the equation. To choose the right bicycle accident attorney, you’ll also want to ask questions like:
- Who will be my main point of contact at the firm?
- How often will you update me on case progress?
- How long will it typically take to hear back from you if I call or email?
- What is the best way to communicate with you?
What to Watch for During Your Consultation with a Bicycle Accident Attorney
Gathering information about your case, how the injury claim process works, what type of experience the lawyer has, and how your relationship with our law firm will work is already a lot. But, there’s one more thing you’ll want to do during your consultation.
Navigating a personal injury case like a bicycle accident case can be stressful. You’ll need to have confidence in your bicycle accident lawyer. And, you must be willing and able to communicate openly and honestly, sometimes sharing very personal information.
As you ask questions and the attorney responds, pay attention to:
- Whether the attorney is patient in explaining things to you in a way you can easily understand
- Whether the attorney seems to be listening to and understanding your priorities and concerns
- Whether you are comfortable asking questions and sharing information
Choosing the Right Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Be Challenging
If you’ve never worked with an injury lawyer before, it can be hard to know where to start. Browsing law firm websites or reading reviews online is a start, but there’s a lot of information to digest. And, it may seem that many firms are making similar claims and providing similar information.
Your free consultation is your opportunity to learn more about your case and what to expect. But, it’s also an opportunity to get to know a bicycle accident lawyer you’re considering hiring. At Harrell & Harrell, we know how important that is. We offer free consultations so you can gather the information you need to make good decisions–about your case and about the attorney you’ll work with. To learn more, call 904-251-1111 right now.