If you decide to consult with a Murphy & Landon attorney about personal injuries resulting from a car accident or medical malpractice, you may have some questions about what to expect when meeting with us for the first time. This is understandable, because many of our clients have no prior experience consulting with an attorney. What can you expect when you first contact Murphy & Landon?
Your first phone call may be with a legal assistant or paralegal. They may take your contact information and have a discussion with you about the reason why you are calling. You can expect some detailed questions about the facts of the incident, as you know them, and some follow up questions about what you have experienced since. If you decide to have a free consultation with an attorney, we coordinate with you to set up a meeting at a mutually convenient time. The initial meeting may take an hour or more. You may be asked to bring relevant papers, medical records, and insurance information to the meeting.
1. Confidentiality: During every step of the process, from initial consultation through trial, you can expect that what you discuss with staff and attorneys at Murphy & Landon will be kept confidential.
2. Attorneys’ Fee: The attorneys’ fee for personal injury cases is a percentage of any final recovery, with no up-front payment required. The fee will be paid from any settlement or verdict obtained on your behalf. We will be happy to have a detailed discussion of the fee agreement and to answer any questions you may have about it.
3. Whether you “have a case”: This is usually the burning question that prospective clients ask. The answer will depend upon the facts, a careful analysis of the law, and possibly consultation with experts in the field. At Murphy & Landon, you can expect an honest assessment of the facts and the law. Additional information may be needed before a full assessment can be made, and certain cases, such as medical negligence cases, require the facts to be assessed by an expert, such as a medical professional, before this question can be fully answered.
4. The process: Most people do not encounter litigation in their everyday lives, and many have never been inside a courtroom. We are happy to answer any and all questions that you have about litigation, attorneys, the court system, jury trials, and the responsibilities and involvement you can expect to have in the process.
It is helpful to have as much information as possible at the initial attorney meeting. Of course, each case is different, and there may be things that are more relevant in certain cases than in others. When scheduling your appointment, we typically ask that you bring specific documents and information with you.
For example, in the case of a car accident, you should bring the Driver Information Exchange Report that was given to you by the police officer at the scene. You may also have the Declarations Page of the insurance policy applicable to the vehicle you were riding in at the time of the accident. If so, you should bring that with you. Additionally, you should write down a list of all of the medical providers you have treated with since the accident occurred, and bring any photographs of the scene, the vehicle(s), or your injuries.
When meeting with an attorney at Murphy & Landon, you can expect respect, an understanding ear, and a thoughtful discussion about the merits of pursuing a claim. We are happy to answer all of your questions.
We may be contacted by telephone at 302-472-8100 or 866-939-8100 (toll free). You may also contact us through our website at: https://www.msllaw.com/contact/
Written by: Lauren A. Cirrinicione, Esq.
