Free consultation

What is a free consultation?

A free consultation is an initial meeting to discuss what happened, assess whether a viable claim exists and explain how the process would work.

It is genuinely free and carries no obligation. You are not required to hire the firm, and no fee is charged whether or not you do.

The reason it is offered is structural rather than generous. Because injury firms work on contingency, they invest their own time and money in cases they accept.

That means the meeting runs in both directions. You are evaluating the firm while the firm evaluates the case.

For most people it is the first contact with the legal system after an injury, and it is designed to be low pressure for that reason.

What should you bring?

Documentation makes the assessment considerably more useful.

Bringing what you have is enough. Missing documents can be obtained later.

• The police or incident report if one exists
• Your auto insurance declarations page
• Photographs of the scene, vehicles and any visible injuries
• Medical records and bills received so far
• Correspondence from any insurance company
• Contact details for any witnesses

What should you ask?

Who will actually handle the case day to day, and how you will receive updates.

How the fee is calculated and whether costs are deducted before or after the fee.

What the attorney sees as the weaknesses in the case, since an honest assessment of problems is more useful than confidence about the outcome.

Why does timing matter?

Because evidence degrades quickly. Video is overwritten, vehicles are repaired or scrapped and witnesses become difficult to locate.

Deadlines can also arrive far sooner than expected. A claim against a public entity requires a notice of claim within 90 days rather than the two years most people assume.

Since the consultation costs nothing and carries no obligation, there is little reason to defer it while considering whether to proceed.

Bringing a written list of questions helps, since it is easy to forget them once the conversation begins.

Common questions

Is it really free?

Yes. No fee is charged for the consultation whether or not you proceed, and it carries no obligation to hire the firm.

What if I am not sure I want to sue?

That is a common position and the consultation is still useful. Understanding your options does not commit you to pursuing anything.

Is what I say confidential?

Yes. Attorney client privilege attaches to consultations sought for legal advice, whether or not representation follows.