Personal Injury Claims in Charlotte: Your Initial Attorney Consultation
Helping North Carolina clients understand their rights after they’ve been injured
An initial consultation is more than just your opportunity to get to know your attorneys and our opportunity to get to know you. At Price, Petho & Associates, we’re your advocate against the insurance companies and with their lawyers.
We need to understand your version of the accident, what medical care you’re receiving, and how much pain you’re enduring before we speak on your behalf. The initial consultation helps us formally start and get moving on your personal injury case while helping you focus on your recovery.
What would you like to know?
- What are the goals of the initial consultation?
- What documents do I need to bring to the initial meeting?
- What questions should I ask at the initial meeting?
- How will my attorney evaluate my case?
- How will my lawyer communicate with me?
- Are my communications confidential?
- Will I always meet with an attorney from Price, Petho & Associates?
- Do you have a personal injury lawyer near me?
What are the goals of the initial consultation?
The initial meeting is important for both the client and the lawyer. It’s the beginning of the entire process. For clients, the initial conference is your chance to learn how we fight for personal injury victims. We’ll answer all the questions you have about our credentials, experience, successes, and professional network. We’ll discuss how we establish how your accident happened, how we decide which defendants should be held accountable, and how we show those defendants were responsible.
You can begin to learn about our lawyers by reviewing our biographies. We’re also happy to answer all your questions when you meet us at the initial consultation. We’re confident that you’ll find that we have the experience, skills, and tenacity to handle your case – along with the comfort of seeing how caring and friendly we are.
We’ll also discuss our personal ties to the community, which helps you understand our dedication to the residents of North Carolina and our ability to select and speak with jurors who are chosen from the same community.
Our lawyers will ask you about the details of the accident, so we know what to investigate, with whom to speak (such as the local police and any witnesses), and other case-related questions. We’ll review your immediate timelines, including the statute of limitations. We always review which doctors and other health providers you’re seeing, what treatments you’re getting, and all the ways your injuries are affecting every part of your life. In some cases, we may recommend certain other healthcare providers we’d like you to see.
We’ll work to get to know you personally. The more we know about you and your family, the better we can discuss your pain and suffering on a personal level.
We’ll discuss many other issues depending on how the accident happened and other factors. For example, we’ll discuss what insurance you’re currently using to pay your doctors and if you were in a car accident, what you’re doing to fix your car.
What documents do I need to bring to the initial meeting?
There are no documents you have to bring to the first conference. The conference is primarily a discussion. We do recommend that accident victims bring certain information – but, no worries, you can always provide the information later.
The following documents are helpful to get your personal injury case started:
- Your insurance information is needed for vehicle accident cases. We may also want your health insurance information. We need to know which insurance company to contact, the policy number, and the amount of insurance coverage you have.
- Any reports you filed with the police, a property owner, or another defendant if you have them. In most cases, we obtain those reports directly from the police, owner, or others.
- A list of your current healthcare providers including their names and location.
- A list of the medications you’re currently taking.
- The identity of any witnesses.
It does help your case if we have any photos or videos that you have that show how the accident happened and/or what you looked like immediately after the accident.
What questions should I ask at the initial meeting?
All questions are fair. Please ask any questions you have. We encourage you to write down a list of questions before the conference, so you don’t forget to ask us.
Common questions include:
- Why should I choose your firm? We’ll discuss our education, experience, settlement record, and trial record.
- Should I speak with any insurance companies or investigators? Essentially, the answer is no. We’ll speak to the insurance companies for you – though you do have a duty to notify your own insurance company if you were in a vehicle accident. You should not discuss the case with any liability carriers or investigators. You should also not discuss your case on social media. You will need to discuss how the accident happened and your injuries with your doctors, so they know how to treat you.
- How does a personal injury case work? Most personal injury cases include an investigation of how the accident happened, discovery (written questions, oral questions, and requests for documents), a review of your medical condition, a demand letter, settlement discussions, and (if necessary) a jury trial. We’ll explain how each phase works.
- Can you give me references? Yes, we can. Many of our former clients have agreed to talk to potential clients about our work. We’re happy to arrange for you to speak with them.
- What is the value of my case? Once the liability issues have been reviewed and your medical condition is stable, we’ll give you a strong idea of what compensation you can seek, taking into consideration your medical needs, income loss, pain and suffering, and many other factors.
Google Reviews
"My experience with Price, Petho & Anderson was fantastic. Mr. Anderson was responsive to my needs throughout the entire process. He worked on my workers' compensation case. He did an excellent job representing my needs with my former employer. Additionally, he was instrumental in getting me a generous settlement from the commercial trucking company responsible for the automobile wreck."
- Elaine Carter
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
Thank You to Margret Ford And Price Petho and associates for all your hard work and dedication. They made the process so easy with No hassels or worries. Thank you again for such prompt service!!
- Carolyn Black
How will my attorney evaluate my case?
A personal injury lawyer will evaluate your claim based on several factors to determine whether you have a strong case and what it may be worth. Here are some of the things your attorney may consider:
- Liability. Your attorney will consider whether there is evidence that the defendant is legally responsible for your injuries. This includes determining whether the defendant had a duty to exercise reasonable care, whether they breached that duty, and whether that breach caused your harm.
- Damages. The attorney will consider the extent and nature of your injuries, including the severity of your physical injuries, any emotional trauma you suffered, and the financial impact of your injuries, such as medical bills and lost wages.
- Insurance coverage. Next, they will evaluate the insurance coverage available to pay for your damages, including the defendant's liability insurance, your own health insurance, and any other sources of coverage.
- Strength of evidence. Your lawyer will also determine the strength of the evidence you have to support your case, including witness statements, police reports, medical records, and any other relevant documentation.
- Potential for Settlement. Finally, the attorney will consider the likelihood of reaching a settlement with the defendant and their insurance company, as well as the potential value of any settlement offers.
Generally, personal injury lawyers use their experience and legal knowledge to evaluate your claim and provide you with an honest assessment of your chances of success and the potential value of your case.
How will my lawyer communicate with me?
At Price Petho and Associates we believe communication is essential for successful representation. As a client of ours you will discover that we have many avenues of communication available to you. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day. You will also have your own private text number that will link directly with your case file and of course email is always available as well.
There are times when a staff member or a lawyer may contact you (by your preferred communication method) about the information we need, your appointments, court hearings, and questions we have.
Are my communications confidential?
All communications between you and your personal injury lawyer are confidential.
Will I always meet with an attorney from Price, Petho & Associates?
Our lawyers handle all aspects of your personal injury case. There will always be at least one attorney who has full responsibility for overseeing your case. An attorney, not a paralegal or staff member, will meet you at the initial conference, represent you at the depositions, speak with your doctors, negotiate with the insurance adjusters, and represent you in court. At least one lawyer will prepare you for any court hearing that will affect your case.
Our administrative staff – secretaries, paralegals, and others – may help us prepare the information we need to discuss your case with you, adjusters, defense lawyers, the court, and expert witnesses. We’ll normally send investigators to speak with eyewitnesses and examine the accident site. Paralegals and our administrative staff may help us organize your file, do some of the legwork, arrange appointments, and other non-legal tasks. They may answer some of your questions, too, if you call us about your case. Rest assured; you will have a lawyer’s attention throughout your entire case.
Clients in all types of cases from car accidents and truck accidents through product defects and medical malpractice choose us for many reasons, including our strong record of settlements and verdicts, our persuasive abilities, our experience, and our dedication to clearly and professionally guide you through each step of the litigation.
Every client has the right to speak with the lawyer from our firm who is assigned to your case. Staff members normally only help with logistics issues, such as scheduling, and minor issues such as checking when you last visited your physical therapist.
Do you have a personal injury lawyer near me?
Yes, we do. While our central office is located at 1430 Elizabeth Ave. in Charlotte, we have additional satellite offices located in Rutherfordton and in Rockingham. If you’re too ill to come to our office, we will make arrangements to see you at your home, a healthcare facility, or through a video conference.
Talk with a seasoned Charlotte personal injury lawyer now
Our lawyers are ready to help you today. At Price, Petho & Associates, we’ll assert your rights while helping you calmly focus on your health. Most clients have many questions after the initial consultation. That’s perfectly fine. We’ll have questions after the initial meeting too. The consultation is just the beginning of your journey toward the strongest recovery possible. Please phone us or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation. Serving Charlotte, Rockingham, Rutherfordton, and North Carolina since 1979.
Google Reviews
"My experience with Price, Petho & Anderson was fantastic. Mr. Anderson was responsive to my needs throughout the entire process. He worked on my workers' compensation case. He did an excellent job representing my needs with my former employer. Additionally, he was instrumental in getting me a generous settlement from the commercial trucking company responsible for the automobile wreck."
- Elaine Carter
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
Thank You to Margret Ford And Price Petho and associates for all your hard work and dedication. They made the process so easy with No hassels or worries. Thank you again for such prompt service!!
- Carolyn Black