The lawyers who give the most useful first consultation are the ones you hand a complete picture. Use this printable checklist so the attorney can assess your deadline, liability, and value on day one — not on the third follow-up call.
Bring these documents
Even partial records help — bring what you have, and note what is missing.
1. The incident record
- Any police, transit-police, or incident report number and a copy if you have one.
- The date, time, exact location, and the operator (which line, station, or crossing).
- Names and contact details of any witnesses.
- Your own written timeline of what happened, written while memory is fresh.
2. Evidence you captured
- Photos and video of the scene, your injuries, and any hazards.
- Names of nearby cameras (station CCTV, platform cameras) so the attorney can demand footage before it is overwritten.
- Any correspondence from the transit agency, railroad, or an insurer — including early settlement offers (do not sign these first; see our honest framework).
3. Medical and financial records
- ER and treatment records, discharge papers, and a list of providers.
- Medical bills and any health-insurance Explanation of Benefits (these flag future liens).
- Proof of lost income — pay stubs, a letter from your employer, or self-employment records.
- Your health-insurance card and, if applicable, Medicare/Medicaid information (relevant to liens).
4. Your questions for them
The consultation runs both ways — you are interviewing the attorney. Bring our printable 15 questions to ask and the numbers from the fee calculator so the fee discussion is concrete. Ask about their direct experience with the specific operator involved, the exact contingency terms, and your filing deadline.
5. Anything about your deadline
If a public transit agency is involved, your notice deadline may be as short as 90–180 days. Bring the accident date and check it against our statute of limitations by state lookup beforehand, and raise it first — a missed notice can end an otherwise strong claim.
