Meeting a compensation solicitor, Waitara: step by step

There's a difference between talking to a solicitor and engaging one. A first conversation lets you both work out whether they can help. Engaging them is the step where you agree, in writing, that they'll work on your claim and how their costs will be dealt with. Until you sign that agreement, you're generally free to take your time, ask questions or speak with someone else.

If our claim check suggests your claim needs legal help, we'll connect you with an independent solicitor experienced in motor accident claims. You're under no obligation to engage them, and you can choose someone else. Either way, the steps on this page are much the same. You can also ask any solicitor whether they are an accredited specialist. It's one of several reasonable questions to raise before you engage anyone.

Once you engage a solicitor, they'll usually tell the insurer that they're acting for you. From then on, most letters and requests about the claim will generally go through them. That doesn't cut you off from the insurer entirely, and it doesn't mean you stop receiving payments or treatment approvals. It simply means the formal side of the claim now has someone checking 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.

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.

You generally don't have to decide anything at the first meeting. It's common to take the costs documents away, read them properly and come back with questions. If you'd like a family member or friend with you for support, that's usually fine; let the solicitor know beforehand. Some people write down the answers as they go, since a lot of information arrives at once.

• Confirms the accident date and which rules apply
• Reads the insurer's letters and decisions
• Notes which records are missing
• Tells you what they need from you next

Meeting remotely doesn't mean a lesser service. The solicitor still needs the full story and the documents, and you still get to ask every question you have. What changes is logistics: documents are emailed or uploaded before the call, and anything to sign is sent to you afterwards. If you can't scan, clear phone photos are generally accepted.

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.

Before or soon after you engage a solicitor, you should generally receive a written costs disclosure. It explains how the solicitor's costs will be worked out, gives an estimate of the total where they can, and usually sets out what you can do if you have a question or a concern about costs later. It's information rather than a contract, but it tells you what to expect.

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 some paperwork in the early weeks. Authorities to release your records, forms confirming your details, perhaps a questionnaire about your injuries and how they affect your day. Return them promptly, because the solicitor can't request records without them. As information comes in, they'll start to form a view of your claim and what it needs next.

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.

• Requests to hospitals, your GP and treating practitioners
• A request to the insurer for copies of its file
• A check of every deadline that applies
• A look at any recent decision you may want reviewed