What can I expect when I call a personal injury lawyer for the first time?

All Ontario personal injury law firms operate differently, but you can likely expect a similar experience the first time you call or drop by a personal injury law office. The first time you call the office, you are unlikely to speak directly to a lawyer. A Law Clerk or other Legal Assistant will answer the phone and briefly discuss your situation, including the details of the accident. They will record some basic information such as your name and contact information, what your injuries are, how the incident happened etc. He/she may also provide you with some basic legal information, such as the two year limitation period for starting a claim.

The information you provide to the Clerk will be passed on to a personal injury lawyer in the office who will review the information and decide whether he/she is able to help you. If the lawyer is unable to take your case, he/she will likely refer you to another lawyer who can, or give you the telephone number of a lawyer referral service.

If the lawyer is able to help you with your personal injury case, he/she will have the Clerk call you back to set up a meeting, either over the phone or in person. The Clerk may also provide you with some basic instructions, for example, obtaining documents that may assist the lawyer in your first meeting.

If you would like to have an initial meeting with a personal injury lawyer, the personal injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth would be pleased to help you. Please call our office to speak to one of our trained law clerks who can help you start the process.  Remember, at Auger Hollingsworth your initial consultation is always free.

About the Author: Brenda Hollingsworth

Brenda Hollingsworth co-founded Ottawa’s Auger Hollingsworth in 2005 with her husband Richard Auger. Together, their mission was to create a personal injury law firm for Eastern Ontario that is unrivalled in the province for customer service and legal expertise. Brenda was named an Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 award recipient and took home the Women’s Business Network’s Businesswoman of the Year award in the Professional category. She was also recognized as one of Ottawa Life Magazine’s “Top 50 People in the Capital.” She is often quoted as an expert and has appeared in media outlets such as CTV, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Sun Media, CBC, Toronto Star, Montreal Gazette, CFRA and many legal publications.

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