What to expect at a free personal injury consultation

Start with a short request

Call (818) 350-4878 or use the consultation form on this page. The form asks for your name, phone number, email and a brief description of what happened. Include the kind of incident and its general date and location. Avoid Social Security numbers, account details and medical records in the public contact form.

Our contact page says we respond to most consultation requests within one business day. If a letter mentions an approaching deadline, say so when you call. A website request does not file a claim, preserve evidence or extend a deadline.

Bring what you have, and identify what is missing

Prepare a short factual outline of the event, the people involved and the questions you want answered. Keep your own observations separate from information others gave you. An incomplete file is a starting point for a conversation, not a reason to guess or fill gaps.

• Report number, investigating agency and any photographs or recordings.
• Insurance correspondence and the complete documents you have been asked to sign.
• A basic treatment timeline, provider names and available billing or work records.
• Letters mentioning dates, requests or an upcoming court event.

The consultation preparation sheet lets you organize questions privately and print them. Its entries are not sent with a consultation request. Ask the team how to provide documents before sending sensitive records.

Use the conversation to understand the next step

An initial discussion may cover how the injury happened, available evidence, insurance issues and matters that need prompt attention. Some questions require records or further investigation before an attorney can give a useful answer. It is reasonable to ask what remains unknown and which information would help clarify it.

The California Courts guide to legal help in a civil case explains how a lawyer can help assess a dispute, review an offer and explain the work a case might involve. The purpose of the conversation is to understand options, not to receive a guaranteed result or payout figure.

Questions worth bringing with you

• Which records or evidence should be addressed first?
• What deadlines need to be checked for the people and claims involved?
• Who would handle my matter, and how would I receive updates?
• What work would the proposed representation cover?
• How would attorney fees, case costs and any reimbursement issues be handled?
• What is the next step if the firm needs more information before deciding?

You can ask for a plain-language explanation of an unfamiliar term. Our injury and insurance dictionary is also available before or after the conversation.

Keep the consultation and representation agreement separate

A free initial consultation is different from an agreement to handle your case. If representation is offered, review the scope, fees, expenses and responsibilities in the proposed written agreement. Read our guide to attorney fees and case costs for questions to ask before signing.

Ask whether an attorney has agreed to act for you on a particular deadline or task. Do not assume that leaving a voicemail, completing this form or using a free worksheet means someone is handling it.

Leave with a short list of next steps

Write down any additional information requested, how to provide it and whom to contact with follow-up questions. Confirm the next action rather than relying on a general expectation about how quickly a case will move. If you need an interpreter or another communication arrangement, mention it when arranging the conversation so availability can be discussed.

Keep copies of documents and notes somewhere private. You can return to the preparation sheet and print an updated copy as your questions change.