Step One
The First Step
Visiting with an accident attorney for a free consultation with Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader sets the stage for your case.
Step two
Getting to Know Each Other
Our priority during the initial client meeting is getting to know you and your case, and giving you the opportunity to get to know us. Whether meeting in person, virtually or by telephone, our goal is to listen to your story. We will have questions designed to help us evaluate your case. You will be given a chance to ask any questions about us, your case or the legal process.
Step three
Explaining Retainer Agreement
At the initial client meeting, we will discuss the retainer agreement, which details the terms of the attorney/client relationship. Some lawyers charge by the hour for their time, but we don’t. We work on a contingent fee basis. This means we only recover a fee if there is a monetary recovery. To put it simply, you pay nothing unless we win. The amount of the contingency fee is determined by the complexity of your case.
We also front the expenses that accompany investigating and pursuing a case. Some examples include filing fees, deposition costs and costs for retaining experts. What this means is that by accepting your case, we are making a financial investment. Our prior successes allow us to do this. Once again, we only recover these expenses if we win.
Step Four
Authorizations
You may be asked to sign authorizations that allow us to obtain documents and records necessary to investigate your case. Examples include a HIPAA authorization that will allow us to obtain copies of your medical records or employment authorizations that will allow us to obtain your employment records.
step five
Social Media
We will likely talk to you about social media and how it can play a role in litigation. We will will want to know which social media sites you use, and may ask that you “friend” us on those sites so we can review the content. We will discuss what to post and not post and how to make sure your social media accounts are equipped with the appropriate privacy settings.
Step six
Outline Next Steps
We are not afraid to devote the time, resources and expertise needed to get the job done right. We will develop a plan to identify and retrieve the information necessary to fully investigate your case and move it forward. The next steps may involve additional investigation, witness interviews, research, evidence preservation, scene inspections, recreation or animation, and expert analysis. Because each case is unique, so too will be the next steps we discuss with you at the initial meeting.
Throughout, and at the end of the initial meeting, our team will answer your questions and give you advice. We want to achieve more than a legal result; we want to be a source of comfort, compassion and resolution.
