What It Costs to Find Out

The first step is to call or text a law firm you trust. It costs absolutely nothing other than peace of mind and knowing you'll get good answers right away.

That is the entire answer to the question this book opened with, and everything in between has been an explanation of what you are actually deciding.

Sometimes I recommend contacting a few lawyers to find out who you feel most comfortable with, who you trust to handle your case, and who you also trust to be with you every step of the way.

That is not a standard closing recommendation, and I understand why. But the relationship you are entering usually lasts a year or more, during a period when you are hurt, and things are uncertain, and the difference between firms shows up in how they answer questions before you sign, not after.

Ask them of more than one firm:

• Have you handled cases like mine, and how many?
• What's the broad roadmap for a case like this?
• If the case doesn't recover, do I owe the firm anything?
• How do you handle lien negotiation at the end?

Call anyway.

At The May Firm, our attorneys provide free case consultations every single day, throughout the day. Many cases are not best suited for us, and we help those people. If we are not the right firm for you, we can refer you to the lawyer we believe is best suited to your case.

If you are questioning whether you should call, I am telling you: you should call. As the caller, you should know the case consultation is free, the time you get is free, and the information you get can change your whole life.

And the underlying test is simple. If you have the question, "Do I need an injury lawyer anywhere in California?" you probably do, and you definitely need to contact somebody. As soon as you think there might be an issue, there likely is.

There is no mystery to it, and it is worth describing so nobody avoids it out of uncertainty.

You describe what happened. Somebody asks about where the accident occurred, where your vehicle is, and whether you have had any medical treatment to date. If it is a different kind of case, they ask different questions, because the consultation is tailored to the situation rather than run off a script.

Then you get an assessment. Whether representation is likely to add value to your situation, and if not, that is what you should be told. Chapter 2 covered why a firm that cannot add value should say so.

That is the whole thing. It costs nothing and resolves the question that has probably been hanging there since the accident.