By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq. | Last updated November 24, 2022
Also available in PDF | MS Word
Driving a car carries with it many responsibilities, such as obeying traffic laws and obtaining insurance.
So what sort of things is your attorney going to be interested in knowing, and what documents might he or she be interested in reviewing? The following is a checklist of items you might want to think about, and prepare for, before meeting your attorney for the first time.
Are you prepared to explain the details of the accident?
Yes_________
No__________
What day did the accident occur? ______________________________________
What time of day did the accident occur? ________________________________
What was the exact location of accident? _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What was the weather like?___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What was the roadway like (wet, dry smooth, pot-holed,etc.)?_______________
_________________________________________________________________
Were other cars or people involved?____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How did the accident occur?__________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Were police called to the scene? _______________________________________
Was a police report filed? ____________________________________________
What traffic violations, if any, were you charged with?_____________________
_________________________________________________________________
Was an ambulance called to the scene? _________________________________
Were any photographs taken at the scene? _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Were any television or other media crews at the scene?_____________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Are you prepared to provide information about witnesses
or other individuals involved in the accident?
Yes_________
No__________
What are the names of witnesses or other involved parties?______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Their relation to you, if any? __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Telephone Numbers:_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
License Plate Numbers: _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Are you prepared to provide information about your injuries?
Yes_______
No________
Were you treated by emergency personnel?_______________________________
Were you taken to a hospital? _________________________________________
What was your immediate diagnosis?____________________________________
What treatments were you initially provided? ____________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Did you have x-rays or other scans taken? _______________________________
Were you hospitalized? For how long? _________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What follow-up or additional treatment have you had?______________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What are your present symptoms?______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What is your present diagnosis?________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What normal activities are you unable to do because of your injuries?__________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
What are the names and locations of all hospitals, clinics, doctors,specialists,
chiropractors, physical therapists or other providers you have seen for your injuries,
including the names of providers who have referred you to other providers?_____
___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Who is your general or family physician? ________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Have you ever had similar injuries in the past?__________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Are you prepared to provide information about yourself?
Yes_______
No________
Your age and birth-date? _____________________________________________
Your address? _____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Your telephone number?_____________________________________________
Your social security number? _________________________________________
Your marital status? ________________________________________________
Your children, if any? _______________________________________________
Your present employment, if any?______________________________________
Your wages or salary?_______________________________________________
Have you have missed time from work as a result of the accident?____________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Do you have a valid drivers’ license?____________________________________
Do you have automobile insurance? ____________________________________
Who is your insurer? ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Have you previously been involved in any car accidents?________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Have you ever been convicted of a crime? _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Are you prepared to provide information about your car?
Yes_______
No________
Make and model of car?______________________________________________
Year?_____________________________________________________________
Is there a lien-holder or bank interest in the car?___________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
How long have you owned the car?_____________________________________
What is the working condition of the car?________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
When was your car last serviced or seen by a mechanic? ________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
What damages were sustained to your car during the accident? __________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Have you received an estimate for the damages?________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Did your car have any damages, dings or dents prior to the accident?_____
_________________________________________________________________
Do you have photographs of you car both before, and after, the accident?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
If you're in a serious accident, you'll benefit from having an attorney represent you both for your own damages and against any claims others might make against you. While accident victims sometimes see selecting and meeting with an attorney as a daunting task, it doesn't have to be. Find an experienced car accident attorney near you today to learn more.
Contact a qualified auto accident attorney to make sure your rights are protected.
Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions about your accident. Many attorneys offer free consultations.