Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen

You are going to meet with your attorney for the first time after a personal injury.  You are apprehensive because you have never consulted with an attorney before.  You are not sure you will understand legal terms.  You are not even sure you have a case.  How do you prepare for this unfamiliar experience?

First, it is most important that you bring yourself on time for your appointment, but after that, bring everything you have pertaining to the case, including:

Arizona Crash Report (can be obtained online for free or for a small fee depending upon the police agency at http://www.azdps.gov/services/records/)

Medical records or bills (if you do not have these, the names and addresses of your medical providers; take a business card every time you go to a physician)

Photographs of damage to both vehicles (including the VIN and the inside of the vehicle)

Photographs of your injuries (including weekly photographs while healing)

Your health and automobile insurance information (Including declaration page and identification cards)

Contact information from any witnesses to the accident (Do not count on the police to obtain these; if you are able, write down names and telephone numbers yourself)

Record of mileage to and from related physician appointments, hospital visits and physical therapy appointments.

If you do not have all this information, bring everything you have to the initial meeting, and the law office will obtain the remainder of the information, including the Arizona Crash Report and medical records and bills.  You will be asked to fill out a form that requests basic information: date of accident, name of the at-fault party, location of accident, and nature of your injuries.