Questions to ask at a personal injury consultation

A first meeting should help you understand the lawyer’s approach, the costs, and what happens next. Use these questions to compare answers before you decide whom to hire. To prepare for your first meeting, explore our personal injury lawyer free consultation guide.

Quick read: start with the six essentials below. Bring the longer list to your meeting.

• Does this lawyer handle cases like mine?
• What facts could weaken my claim?
• Who will actually manage my case?
• How do fees and expenses work?
• How will we communicate?
• What should I do next?

Ask what was similar, what was different, and who at the firm did the work.

Discuss liability, injury records, insurance, possible defenses, and facts the lawyer still needs to check.

Get the name or role of the lawyer and staff who will work on your matter.

Ask for the proposed fee agreement, case expenses, and how those amounts affect any recovery.

Ask what can happen before a lawsuit, when litigation might be considered, and what information is missing.

Agree on an update schedule, the best contact method, and how quickly urgent questions are handled.

• Date, location, and a brief account of what happened
• Photos, video, witness details, or a police or incident report
• Insurance cards, claim numbers, letters, and adjuster messages
• Any written offer or release you have received

• Medical providers, visit dates, bills, and records you have
• Work missed and proof of lost earnings, if available
• Out-of-pocket expenses and damaged-property documents
• A list of questions, concerns, and upcoming deadlines

Experience with a different accident or injury may not translate directly to your matter.

A careful lawyer may need records, coverage details, witnesses, and a fuller timeline before forming a view.

Ask about disputed fault, causation, prior conditions, missing evidence, and insurance limits without expecting a guaranteed result.

Filing and notice deadlines vary by state, claim, and defendant. Ask for the deadlines that apply to your facts.

• Is there a charge for this consultation?
• What percentage applies if the case settles, goes to trial, or is appealed?
• Which case expenses could be charged, and who advances them?
• Are expenses deducted before or after the fee is calculated?
• If there is no recovery, could I still owe any costs?
• How might medical bills, liens, or reimbursements affect the amount I receive?

Ask for the written agreement and take time to understand the scope of work, the fee method, and expenses. A gross settlement figure is not the same as the amount a client may receive after agreed fees, costs, and valid obligations.

Our attorney fee calculator can help you explore a hypothetical breakdown. It is only an estimate; the actual signed agreement controls.

If other lawyers, paralegals, or outside counsel will be involved, ask who supervises the work and who makes key decisions.

Ask whether updates arrive by phone, email, or portal, and whom to contact about treatment, an insurer, or a new document.

Ask what evidence or events change the plan. No one can promise a fixed case timeline or outcome at a first meeting.

Clarify how offers are explained, who discusses them with you, and what happens if you disagree with the recommended path.

• The lawyer asks careful questions and explains what is still unknown
• You understand the proposed fee and expense terms
• You know who will contact you and when
• The office gives a clear next step without pressuring you

• A guaranteed settlement amount or timeline before key facts are reviewed
• Pressure to sign immediately without reading the agreement
• Vague answers about expenses or who will handle the case
• A claimed license or specialty that you cannot confirm

No. Many lawyers offer an initial conversation without charge, but ask about the fee before booking.

No. A consultation helps both sides decide whether to work together. Read the engagement agreement before accepting representation.

Yes, ask what information would be needed to evaluate a range. Be cautious of a precise promise before the lawyer has reviewed liability, injuries, coverage, and expenses.

Ask what concern drove the decision and whether another lawyer, a bar referral service, or legal aid may be appropriate. Do not assume deadlines have stopped.

Explore the attorney fee calculator and our contingency fee guide.

Read how long a personal injury case can take and how LawyerHelpNow works.

See our attorney listing standards and the ABA state licensing directory.