QUICK ANSWER
A personal injury consultation needs a clear event date, treatment sequence, work impact and any insurer or authority correspondence. Ask about time limits, costs, evidence and who will manage the claim.
Key takeaways
- Record the event and treatment timeline.
- Keep insurer and authority correspondence.
- Ask how fees and disbursements work in different outcomes.
Create the event and treatment timeline
Record when, where and how the event occurred, when symptoms appeared and where you obtained treatment. Note periods away from work and important changes in duties or daily activity.
Use medical records where available, but do not delay an urgent limitation question while waiting for a complete file.
Preserve correspondence and costs
Keep letters, claim numbers, decisions and requests from insurers, employers or authorities. Maintain a simple record of relevant expenses and lost work.
- Incident reports, photographs and witness details
- Medical certificates and provider list
- Insurer, employer or authority correspondence
- Income records and relevant expenses
Understand the claim model
Ask what scheme or legal pathway may apply, which deadlines require checking and what further evidence is needed. Clarify who communicates with insurers and treatment providers.
Request a clear explanation of professional fees, disbursements, any conditional arrangement and what you may pay if the claim does not proceed as hoped.
TURN PREPARATION INTO A USEFUL SEARCH
Find providers connected to this guide.
Browse published services, then confirm the individual’s experience, availability, scope and fees directly.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Useful answers before you start.
Do I need all medical records before calling?
Usually not for an initial enquiry. Give the treatment overview and ask which records the lawyer needs and who will obtain them.
Should I post about the injury online?
Public posts can create an incomplete record and may be reviewed in a dispute. Ask for advice about preserving evidence and communications.
What does no win, no fee mean?
Terms vary. Ask which fees and disbursements are conditional, what remains payable in each outcome and read the written agreement carefully.