What are the Most Common Personal Injury Forms?

LAW BLOG  •

July 12, 2016

After a personal injury lawyer accepts your case, you will likely spend time collecting documentation and filling out forms. To move forward, you will need to release certain information to your attorney, sign a contractual agreement, and fill out other forms as needed.

If the paperwork sounds overwhelming, remember that it will expedite the legal process. Your attorney can explain things to you and help you along the way. Enlist family members to help keep you organized as your case moves forward, and the paperwork will go by quickly.

The Most Common Forms You Will See

  • Intake forms: Depending on your type of case, an attorney may provide you with an intake form designed to simplify the legal considerations in a claim. The form will typically ask for contact information, and present a series of questions to help an attorney assess your case. You may need to describe the incident, list witnesses, and list other relevant information within the form. For instance, if you suffer an injury on an airplane, you may need to list information regarding the flight number, the time of injury, and if you reported the injury. An intake form is typically one of the first forms your attorney will ask you to fill out.
  • Attorney contract/retainer/contingency agreement: Almost all personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning their compensation will come from any damages the court awards and not out of your pocket. You will still need to sign a contract to retain your attorney’s services.

The contract will typically authorize the attorney to represent you, explain your attorney’s ethical obligations, and outline your agreement for services. You may need to pay for other case expenses out of pocket, and this document will include payment terms and information.

Read the contract carefully and ask for clarification if you have any questions. Pay close attention to all payment agreements and your obligations throughout the case.

  • Medical release forms: In personal injury cases, attorneys rely on medical documentation to prove the extent of a client’s injuries. However, federal law protects the privacy of your medical records. Your attorney cannot contact your doctor and ask for the information. You will need to sign a medical release form and deliver it to your physician’s office.
  • Damages worksheets: During personal injury cases, courts do not arbitrarily assign damages during deliberations. As your attorney builds your case, he or she will use estimates worksheets to determine a fair value to request from the defendant. The worksheet will include comprehensive information about the losses and expenses associated with your injury. Medical expenses, lost income, your cost of living, property damage, pain and suffering, and other factors will play a role in your request for damages.
  • Documentation checklist forms: Your attorney will also ask you to collect documentation to support your claim. You may need to present medical billings, accident reports, medical records, any written statements you made, copies of your insurance policies, receipts for accident-related expenses, correspondence related to your accident, dates of hospitalization and missed work, and the contact information for witnesses, physicians, and those involved in the incident.

These forms and lists of information are crucial when building a case. They give your attorney the authority and information needed to move forward with a claim; they may also give you a sense of justification that pursuing a legal claim is the right thing to do. Take the time to fill out each form carefully.

Ask as many questions as you need during your initial consultation to feel confident in the firm you choose. At Gordon & Elias, LLP, we want to help you make an informed decision about your legal options. Reach out to us for a free case evaluation today.

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