What to Expect During a Personal Injury Consultation

If you were hurt in a car crash, fall, or other accident in Gaffney, you may be unsure whether you have a case or how to begin. A personal injury consultation is your first step toward answers. Knowing what happens during this meeting can ease your nerves and help you make the most of your time with an attorney. As always, the Gaffney personal injury attorneys at Parker & Bain, LLC, are here to address your concerns.

What Is the Purpose of a Personal Injury Consultation?

The purpose of a personal injury consultation is to let you and an attorney discuss your accident and decide whether working together makes sense. You will explain what happened, describe your injuries, and ask questions. The attorney will listen, gather facts, and give you an honest view of your options. This will allow your attorney to identify potentially liable parties and estimate potential compensation.

What Should You Bring to Your Consultation?

You should bring any documents and information related to your accident and injuries. Helpful items include the police or accident report, medical records and bills, photos of the scene and your injuries, insurance correspondence, witness contact information, and proof of lost wages. Don’t worry if you don’t have one or more of these items, since your attorney can help obtain them later.

What Does an Attorney Go Over at an Initial Consultation?

At an initial consultation, an attorney reviews three core issues: who is liable, what compensation may be available, and what steps should be taken next.

How Does an Attorney Assess Liability?

An attorney assesses liability by examining whether another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries. Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can still recover damages if you were partly at fault, as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Your percentage of fault reduces your compensation, so the attorney will look closely at how the accident occurred.

How Does an Attorney Estimate Potential Compensation?

An attorney estimates potential compensation by reviewing the full scope of your losses. These may include medical expenses, future treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. While no ethical attorney will promise a specific dollar amount, they can explain the factors that affect your claim’s value.

What Next Steps Will Our Legal Team Recommend?

The next steps an attorney recommends depend on the details of your case. Generally, our Gaffney personal injury lawyers recommend that injured persons take the following steps to protect their rights:

• Continue medical treatment (gaps in treatment can diminish your claim)
• Avoid providing recorded statements to insurance adjusters
• Preserve evidence, including video footage, photos, medical records, invoices, and pay stubs (showing lost wages)
• Refrain from using social media

Your attorney will also discuss deadlines, since most personal injury claims in South Carolina must be filed within three years of the injury. While this is the statutory deadline, some exceptions could give you more time to file, so you must speak with our experienced legal team.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Consultation Cost?

Our personal injury consultations are free, and there is no obligation to hire us afterward. If you choose to move forward, we handle cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs or attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Questions? Reach Out to Our Gaffney Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one was injured because of someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At Parker & Bain, LLC, our Gaffney personal injury lawyers are ready to review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options. To arrange your free consultation, our office can be reached online or by calling (864) 489-8128.