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Two Pershing Square 2300 Main Street, Suite 170 Kansas City MO 64108Two Pershing Square
2300 Main Street, Suite 170
Kansas City, MO 64108
Directions
Telephone: (816) 221-6600
Toll Free: 1 (877) 284-6600
Fax: (816) 221-6612
Most people have not met with a lawyer in any professional capacity and may not know what to expect. Know that this is a time for you to assess your choice of a personal injury lawyer. Use these seven tips to help you prepare for your first meeting with your lawyer.
Be prepared. Have an idea of what you want to get out of this first meeting. That may change after your consultation, but that is okay. Be able to tell your story accurately but with as much detail as possible. Consider creating a timeline to help tell your story and keep you from digressing.
Come with questions, lots of them! What are you worried about? What do you not understand? What is the payment structure? What makes the contract void? What possible outcomes/expectations are reasonable and unreasonable? Write them down so you do not forget anything.
Bring documents. This includes all the physical items that will help tell the story of what happened: photos (i.e., of your injury, the scene of the accident), medical records, bills or other expenses. For a product liability case, documents might include the product manual, photos of the product or even the product itself. Other types of documents might include contracts, deeds, timesheets, letters, emails, and police reports. Be sure to bring a set of copies of documents for your attorney.
Make sure you understand. Legal jargon can be confusing. If you do not ask for clarification, misunderstandings can easily happen. Use plain English in your conversations and summarize so that you know what was said and what is expected.
Do not sign a contract if you have questions. Make sure you read any contracts in full and that you understand what is expected (what you are agreeing to) before you sign. Again, legalese can be confusing so ask questions.
Take notes. There is so much going on, it can be easy to forget some of what you discussed or any of the resources offered to you. Bring a pen and paper or take notes on your cell phone so you can refresh yourself later.
Bringing a friend. While you can bring someone with you to the consultation, any attorney-prospective client confidentiality is lost if a third party is present. S/he could even be subpoenaed to testify about what was said or heard. The best practice is to go by yourself.
The first meeting with your prospective attorney is important. This is when you will be assessing him or her and determining whether you want them to represent you.
Have you been seriously injured in an accident? Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.
In the Kansas City area and across Missouri, the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm will fight for your rights. Contact our legal team today. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.
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Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements