Why does my accident lawyer want to know personal information about me?

During an initial meeting with a personal injury lawyer, several things will happen. You can expect a chance to get to know the lawyer. You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the lawyer’s experience and fees. The attorney will ask you about how you get hurt, where you got hurt, and the extent of your injuries.

As your case continues, your lawyer may ask additional questions that may seem personal or off-topic at first but are actually essential to your personal injury claim.

Personal Questions Your Lawyer May Ask

Your lawyer may ask personal questions not to be nosey or to invade your privacy, but to be prepared for potential defenses raised in your personal injury case. Some of the questions you may be asked include:

  • What medical conditions or injuries did you suffer before the accident? You may think that your medical history is irrelevant to your current injuries, but the defendant’s lawyer may argue that your current medical condition was caused by previous illnesses or injuries and not the accident at issue in your lawsuit.
  • Do you have a criminal history? The defense may try to convince the court that you are lying or untrustworthy. Sometimes, they will use a past criminal conviction to attack your credibility.
  • Have you ever used drugs or abused alcohol? Alcohol or drug abuse is another way the defense may try to attack your credibility, even if it isn’t relevant to your personal injury case.
  • What is your current financial situation? The defense may claim that you are bringing a personal injury case because money is tight and not because you are really hurt.
  • Are you on social media? Your lawyer may want to check your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, and other accounts to see if anything has been posted that could hurt your claim.
  • What have you been doing with your time since the accident? We promise not to judge what you are binge-watching. Instead, we may ask this question to make sure that your day-to-day activities are consistent with your stated injuries so that the defense doesn’t point out any discrepancies.

Our goal is to learn everything that we can about you to get you the fair recovery you deserve. Call us or complete our contact form to have us contact you to schedule your free initial consultation and begin protecting your rights after a personal injury accident.

 

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.