Meeting with an Iowa personal injury attorney after your car accident is often the first step to getting fair compensation for your injuries. In order to make the initial consultation as easy for you and the attorney as possible, there are a few things you’ll need to bring to the meeting.
1. Your Iowa Car Accident Report
After your accident, it’s likely the police department or local law enforcement was called. Whomever responded most likely talked to you and put together an accident report that details your side of the events, the other side’s version of the events, and other relevant information the officer noticed. This report is critical to your case, so make sure you have it with you so the attorney can review it.
If you received a traffic ticket, bring that with you as well.
2. Any Insurance Information
Whether the other driver’s insurance company or your insurance company ends up paying for your injuries depends on your insurance coverage and the coverage of the other person involved in your accident.
You’ll need to bring the following to your initial consultation:
- Your car insurance declaration page
- Your car insurance card
- Your driver’s license
- Your health insurance card
- The insurance exchange information you got from law enforcement at the scene with the other person’s insurance information and driver’s license number
If your insurance company or the other person’s insurance company has contacted you in writing, bring that letter with you as well. It can help the attorney assess your claim and whether they will be able to help you.
3. Any Car Accident Photos
It’s always a good idea to take photos at the scene of the crash if you can. But even if you didn’t take any at the time, law enforcement may have. When you request your accident report, ask if they have any photos associated with your accident and get those if you can.
4. Vehicle Information
To help assess the value of your Iowa car accident claim, your attorney will need to know what kind of vehicles were involved in the accident. You’ll need to bring your license plate number, a copy of the title if your vehicle was totaled, and a vehicle repair estimate if you have one.
5. Proof of Lost Wages Due to Your Car Crash Injuries
If your accident has caused you to miss work, you may be entitled to be compensated for the wages you lost. Bring your most recent pay stubs and any other documentation you have that shows how many days you’ve missed.
If you’ve been fired because of your injury, the attorney will want to know. Bring in any and all communications with your employer since your injury. You’ll also want to begin documenting your job search.
You may be able to file for Iowa workers’ compensation benefits if you were on the job at the time of the crash.
6. Medical Records
If you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, you probably have thousands of dollars in medical bills. Bring the following to your initial consultation:
- All explanations of benefits you’ve received from your health insurance company
- Any medical bills that you have received, whether you’ve paid them or not
- Any discharge papers
- Name, address, and phone number of all the medical providers you’ve seen for your crash-related injuries
- Any receipts for medication related to your accident injuries
7. Any Other Bills and Receipts Related to Your Iowa Car Crash Claim
In order to get a fair settlement for your case, the insurance company will need proof of your losses. That means an attorney will need to see every bill or receipt related to your vehicle repair, your injuries, and anything else caused by your crash.
By bringing in as much of this documentation as you can, the attorney will be able to give you the best assessment of your case and streamline your consultation process.
If you would like to schedule a no-obligation case evaluation with one of our Iowa personal injury attorneys, call RSH Legal at 1-319-774-1783 today.
