What to have ready before you talk to a lawyer
You don't need a perfect file to talk to a lawyer. Plenty of people start with a phone and a vague memory of when things went wrong, and that is enough to begin.
But an hour spent on the list below usually makes the first conversation shorter, clearer and more useful to you. Do what you can and skip what you can't.
Write down what happened, in order
Memory fades faster than people expect, and the order of events often matters. Write a short timeline: what happened, when, where, and who was there. Dates can be rough ("early March", "the week after the move"). Write it for yourself, in plain words, and keep it private. It is a note to help you remember, not a statement for anyone else.
Gather the papers you already have
Look for anything with a date, a name or a number on it. You don't need to go hunting for records you don't have; the lawyer can tell you what is worth asking for.
- Letters, emails and texts about the problem, including anything from an insurer, an employer, a company or a government office.
- Contracts, policies, handbooks or agreements you signed.
- Bills, receipts, pay stubs, bank or account statements that show money you lost or paid.
- Reports: police, incident, accident or medical.
- Photos and videos, with the date they were taken if your phone shows it.
Make a list of names
Write down the people and companies involved: who did what, who saw it, who you have spoken to about it since, including insurance adjusters and claim numbers. The names of the other side matter for another reason too: before a lawyer talks with you in detail, the firm checks it isn't already working for them.
Keep things safe, and leave some things alone
Keep anything that might matter: a damaged product, a letter, a phone with messages on it. Don't throw things away or delete messages, even ones that are embarrassing or that you think hurt your side. Deleting something can cause far more trouble than the thing itself.
Don't take documents or copy files you aren't allowed to access, for example from an employer's system. If you think important records exist that you can't get to, tell the lawyer instead.
Be careful what you post and what you sign
Until you have had advice, it is usually wise not to post about the problem on social media, and not to sign a release, a settlement or a statement from the other side. A release is a document that gives up your claim, often permanently.
Write down your questions
People often remember their most important question in the car on the way home. Write your questions down before you talk to anyone: what worries you most, what you want to happen, and anything you don't understand about the letters you have received.
If time may be short
Legal deadlines can be short, sometimes a matter of months, and a claim against a government body can have a much earlier deadline than one against a private company. If you think one may be close, speak with a lawyer licensed where it happened now, with whatever you have. Don't wait until your file is complete.
Your short list
- A short timeline in your own words.
- The letters, emails and texts about the problem.
- Anything you signed.
- Bills, receipts and statements showing money lost or paid.
- Photos, videos and reports.
- A list of the people and companies involved, with any claim numbers.
- Your questions, written down.
This page explains things in general terms. It is not legal advice about your situation, and the law differs from state to state.