Meeting a compensation solicitor, Eastgardens: step by step

Most people engage a solicitor in a few stages rather than all at once. There's the first contact, often a phone call. There's a first meeting, by phone, video or in person, where the solicitor hears what happened and reads your documents. Then come the costs documents to read and sign. Once that's done, the solicitor starts requesting records and contacting the insurer on your behalf.

You don't have to find a solicitor on your own. After a free claim check, if your case calls for legal help, we can put you in touch with an independent solicitor who works on these claims. The first conversation is a chance to see whether you're comfortable with them. If you're not, you can say so. Engaging a solicitor is always your decision, and so is the timing.

A video meeting covers the same ground as one across a desk. The solicitor can see your documents if you hold them up or share your screen, and you can see them as you talk. If video is hard for you, a phone call works too. Many people find it easier to concentrate in familiar surroundings, especially while they're still recovering.

If you'd prefer to meet in person, ask. Some solicitors can arrange it, although it may mean travelling. For most people, though, a phone or video meeting followed by documents sent electronically is simpler. Keep copies of everything you sign and send, in one folder or email thread, so you can find them again quickly.

A common worry is that engaging a solicitor will upset the insurer. It generally shouldn't. Insurers deal with solicitors all the time, and in many claims correspondence simply starts going to the solicitor instead of to you. Decisions are still made under the scheme rules. What changes is that someone familiar with those rules reads each letter before you act on it.

You can usually still speak to your case manager about everyday things, such as treatment requests, payment dates or travel costs. For anything more formal, like a request for a statement, an assessment or a signature, check with your solicitor first. It also helps to tell them about any calls you've had with the insurer, so their file stays complete.

A costs disclosure is the solicitor's written explanation of how they'll charge. In most cases it describes the basis of their fees, an estimate of what the matter may cost overall, and other expenses that may come up along the way, such as medical reports. Read it carefully even if it looks like standard wording. If an estimate or term doesn't make sense to you, ask before going further.

The costs agreement is the document you sign to confirm the arrangement. It sets out what you're agreeing to pay, and when. Read it before you sign it, take it away if you need to, and ask about any term you don't understand. In CTP claims, legal costs are also capped by regulation. If the agreement is described as no win, no fee, read what that generally means first.

Expect the first meeting to feel more like a structured conversation than an interview. The solicitor needs enough of the story to judge whether they can help, and enough of the paperwork to spot any deadline that's close. They'll often take notes as you talk and ask to keep copies of your documents. It's also your chance to ask how they would approach the claim.

It's normal to feel a little overwhelmed at a first meeting, especially soon after a crash. A few simple habits help: keep your documents in one folder, bring a short timeline of what's happened, and write down your questions before you start. If there's anything you'd rather discuss privately, you can ask for part of the meeting to be just you and the solicitor.

• Confirms the accident date and which rules apply
• Checks whether any deadline is close
• Reads the insurer's letters and decisions
• Tells you what they need from you next

The first weeks after you engage a solicitor are mostly about gathering information. They'll usually ask you to sign authorities so they can request records from hospitals, your GP and other treating practitioners. They may also ask for records of your earnings. Some requests take time to come back, so this stage can feel quiet. That doesn't generally mean nothing is happening.

A good early plan is specific. It says what the solicitor is waiting on, what they expect to do once it arrives, and whether anything is time-sensitive. It doesn't need to predict how the claim will end, and no one can honestly do that this early. Ask for the plan in writing if it helps you keep track.

• Signing authorities to release your records
• A request to the insurer for copies of its file
• Questions about your earnings before the accident
• A written outline of the next steps