What You Should Know Before Your Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in an accident, whether that be a car crash, or an accident involving a truck, a slip-and-fall, or another personal injury, it would be wise to consider a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. When you first talk with a personal injury lawyer, they will want to hear any and all information you can offer about the accident. The length of consultations vary, depending on the severity of your case, and how serious your injuries are. Consultations for cases which are more complex may take more time.

Finding the Right Attorney

When choosing an attorney to see, you should do some basic research. Search for attorneys in your area that cover cases such as yours. Read google reviews of any lawyers you are considering. When you first speak with an attorney, your first impression of them is often the best. While most personal injury cases end up settling before trial, if your case doesn’t settle early, your interaction with your lawyer will be relatively lengthy. The easier it is for you to speak with them, the better. If you feel as though your lawyer is too busy for your case, they probably are. Is your consultation done with a lawyer, or someone else? Does the attorney seem credible? Considering these criteria can tell you if a law firm is the right one for you.

What Information Should I Bring with Me?

The more information you bring to your initial consultation, the better. The consultation will center around two essential areas: One, How the accident occurred and Two, Your injuries and medical treatment. The more information you can bring relating to these two areas, the better. Information such as this could include the following:

• Police Report of the Accident
• Photographs and Videos
• Witness Information/Testimonies
• Notes you took following the accident
• The other driver’s contact and insurance information
• A copy of your decleration page on your auto policy
• A copy of your health insurance card
• Any and all medical records

Bring anything you may think will be helpful pertaining to this list. It’s helpful to give your attorney everything and to let them sort out what they need, that way they can get a full understanding of the accident and your injuries.

Your attorney will ask for your statement on how exactly the accident occurred. They will want to understand the cause of the accident before they move onto your medical records. Your lawyer will want a full understanding of your injuries and your treatment, including when and where you were first treated, any testing that has been done, any medications you’ve been prescribed, etc.

Have Questions Ready

When you first speak with an attorney, it’s their chance to understand what happened, and its impact on you. It’s your chance to learn about your attorney and their abilities. Some questions to consider asking in your initial interview include:

• Do I need a lawyer for this case?
• How long will this case take?
• What do I do if an insurance adjustor calls?
• How will my medical expenses be paid?
• Is there anything I need to do right now?
• Is there anything I should avoid doing?
• Who will speak with me when I have questions/concerns if I hire you?
• What percentage do you charge?
• What expenses will come out of my settlement?

If after your initial consultation, you decided to retain the attorney, you will have to sign representation and fee agreements. Read completely through both documents, you want to know what you’re agreeing to.

Free Personal Injury Consultations

At LeBaron & Jensen P.C. we offer free consultations for all of our potential clients. If you or someone you love have been injured in an accident, don’t hesitate any longer, contact our office today at 801-773-9488 for your free consultation and to speak with one of our many experience personal injury attorneys.

Working in construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in America. The construction industry employs more than 9 million US workers. Workplace injuries are commonplace in the construction field, with over 150,000 injuries occurring each year. According to OSHA, one in five workplace fatalities occur on construction sites. There are many reasons these accidents can occur, whether it be human error, or a machine malfunctioning.

Common Construction Accidents

According to OSHA, the “Fatal Four” construction accidents which result in serious injury or fatality are:

• Falls
• Being Struck by an Object
• Electrocution
• Being Crushed by an Object

These account for nearly 64.2% of all construction industry injuries. If we could eliminate these “Fatal Four,” we could save approximately 602 workers lives each year. Other common injuries include burns, hearing loss, broken bones, back injuries, repetitive stress injuries, etc.

Causes of Accidents

Construction accidents can be caused by many variables. Construction sites are very busy, and it’s not uncommon for someone to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and end up injured or worse. Sadly, one of the leading reasons these accidents occur, is lack of safety standards on a site, some examples of this include:

• Unprotected sides, and holes in both the floors and walls – these hazards can cause injuries due to falls and falling objects
• Improper Scaffold Construction – lack of guardrail systems or fall protect can cause serious injuries and death as a result of a fall
• Unguarded Exposed Steel Rebar – protruding rebar with no protection can cause serious injuries such as impalement
• Exposed wires – these can cause electrocution
• Defective Equipment – defective equipment can cause injuries or death from being run over, electrocution, loss of limb, or explosions.
• Improper use of Equipment – Human error when using a heavy piece of machinery can result in severe injury or death.

Construction companies are required to provide a safe environment for their employees. OSHA has specific safety rules that construction companies must comply with. If a company doesn’t provide a safe workplace, it could be held responsible for the injuries which occurred due to their negligence.

Liability and What to do After an Accident

Construction accident cases can be very tricky. This is because determining who is liable for the accident is often very confusing. Oftentimes the employer themselves can not be sued, leaving workers with only worker’s compensation. However, it is possible that a third party could be held liable for damages suffered on a job site. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident and are wondering what your options are, follow these steps:

• Go to the hospital – Get a professional checkup even if you don’t think you have any injuries
• Report the accident – Report the accident to the construction site supervisor. Do this even if you are a pedestrian.
• Hire legal counsel – Call LeBaron & Jensen P.C. and meet with one of our construction accident attorneys.

Our skilled attorneys will help you determine who was liable for your accident and help you pursue your claim with the appropriate insurance company. Call today at 801-773-9488 for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our construction accident lawyers.