Steps To Take Following Your Legal Consultation

Preparing to pursue a personal injury claim in Colorado means thoroughly considering your legal options and which legal counsel you want to retain. It is a process that you don’t want to rush through. In fact, the more methodical your approach, the better. You will have multiple options to consider and your first legal consultation is merely the start of many steps you will need to take.

1. Consider Your Options

Before retaining legal counsel, you must determine which attorney will best represent your claim. Always select an attorney with the legal knowledge and background that most closely matches your type of claim, i.e. motor vehicle accidents, dog bites, truck accidents, etc.

2. Schedule an Appointment

Once you have selected an attorney, arrange for a second appointment to discuss legal strategy. At this point, the attorney will provide a more detailed assessment of your claim. This includes damages you can pursue, legal strategies you can apply, the liability of defendant(s), an estimated timetable, etc.

3. Thoroughly Assess Fees and Costs

Always confirm the attorney’s fee schedule. Make sure you understand your responsibility for the expenses associated with pursuing the claim and how these will be paid.

4. Make a Decision

The attorney will charge you for a second appointment because they are providing legal advice. However, this does not mean you have retained legal counsel. This relationship is not established until you sign a formal agreement. As such, you are still free to pursue alternative counsel if you believe another attorney will better represent your claim.

5. Make it Official

When you find the right legal counsel for your needs, you will need to sign an attorney representation agreement. This is a contract between you and the attorney that stipulates critical details, including:

• The scope of services the attorney will perform.
• The responsibility of costs associated with pursuing the claim.
• Additional responsibilities of both the attorney and the client.

6. Pursue Your Claim

Once you sign your representation agreement, you have officially retained legal counsel and have formed an attorney-client relationship. At this point, follow your attorney’s advice and take the steps required to achieve a positive outcome for your personal injury claim in Colorado.

We invite you to contact Sloat, Nicholson & Hoover, P.C. at (303) 447-1144 for more information about the legal services we provide in Colorado. It is our pleasure to schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your legal options.