What to Know When Calling an Attorney

What basic information should I be prepared to give when I call an attorney's office?

Many people never consider that they may need to speak to an attorney. Certainly, many people hope that they never do. As a result, those who call an attorney's office to discuss a potential case are often unsure what to expect during the telephone call. You may wonder, why is the attorney asking me these questions? What could this possibly have to do with my potential case? Here are some of the common, basic questions an attorney will ask during a conversation about a potential case, and the reasons that this information is important for the attorney to have.

Names of People Involved

The attorney will need to know your full name, and the names of those involved in the potential case. It is important for the attorneys to be able to identify you to make sure that they are able to represent you without any conflicts. Sometimes an attorney or law firm may have to decline a case not because it is a bad case, but because the attorney or law firm has some other connection to the other individuals involved in the situation, which may pose ethical problems with accepting the new case. In order for the attorneys to effectively rule out potential conflicts, it is important for them to be able to identify the person with whom they are speaking, and anyone else who is involved. In many situations, you may not know the full names of others involved, and that is OK. Just give as much information about each potential party as you have.

Locations

You will be asked where you live, where others involved in your potential case live, and where the event or incident, which forms the basis of your case, occurred. For example, if you live in Moundsville, West Virginia, but are calling because of a car accident that occurred in Washington, Pennsylvania, or if you live in Cambridge, Ohio, but are calling because of medical care you received in a hospital in South Carolina, both of those locations are something the attorney will need to know to fully evaluate your case. The residences of all parties involved in a case, as well as the location of any major incidents, are all factors that are used to determine what courts the case may be filed in, as well as whether the case may be subject to removal to a federal court, or transferred to a court in another city or state.

Dates

This is one of the most important questions an attorney will ask when evaluating your potential case. Legal causes of action are subject to statutes of limitations, which means there is a limited period of time in which you can file a lawsuit after an event or injury. These time periods will vary depending on the type of case, and the state in which the incident or event occurred. You should always contact an attorney as soon as possible if you think you have a case, and you should be prepared to provide as much information as possible about the dates of the important events in the case. For cases such as a car wreck, it is usually pretty easy to provide the dates. For cases involving medical care and treatment, you may need to provide an entire timeline. You may not know the exact dates of every important event, but the more information you are able to provide during your conversation with the attorney, the better.

Who Have You Spoken To

You will likely be asked if you have spoken to various people about your potential case. Depending upon the type of case you are inquiring about, this could include other attorneys, the police, representatives from insurance companies or government agencies, doctors, the potential defendants in the case, or anyone else who may have been involved or been a witness. If you are asked whether you have spoken to another attorney, it is important to be truthful about this. The attorney asking will not be upset that you did not call his office first, but needs to know whether you are already represented in the matter, or whether another attorney referred the case.

These are just some of the most basic questions you should be prepared to answer when contacting an attorney about your potential case. An attorney will also go through the details of the situation with you, and ask questions to help sort through the facts and circumstances to determine what legal options may be available. If you think that you or a family member may have a potential case, the lawyers at Bordas & Bordas are here to discuss your situation and help you to determine your legal rights and options.