Something as seemingly minor as a fender bender can leave you frazzled at best, or completely paralyzed at worst. At a time when you barely can gather your wits, you might have to deal with the complexities of hiring a car accident attorney to recover for your injuries and damages. The good news is that most auto accident lawyers in Arizona work on a contingency basis, so looking around for the right one probably won’t cost you anything.

The problem is that you might have time constraints related to financial matters, which is why getting your case going as quickly as possible is always a good idea. To ensure that you are ready to proceed once you hire an attorney and sign on the dotted line, have these documents available to help hasten the process. It will allow you to leave everything in your lawyer’s hands so that you can focus on healing and getting back to your own self.

A copy of your auto insurance policy. Whether you are at fault or not, you will need to bring a copy of your auto insurance policy so that your lawyer can go through it to see what types of coverage you have and if there are any exclusions. If you can’t find one, your attorney will be able to get a copy through your insurance company.

Evidence that your insurance is paid to date. When meeting with your attorney, you will want to bring proof that your premium payments have been met and that your policy is up-to-date. The best way to do so is to bring a copy of either a canceled check or have a printout of your bank statement for the last time you made a payment.

Information that you exchanged with the other driver or drivers. When you were in an accident, you most likely exchanged information with other people — both, those who were involved in the accident and any other parties who might have been witnesses. Even if you have already talked with the other parties, your lawyer will want to have their contact information just in case they have any further questions.

Police reports. If a police officer arrived at the scene, you would want to get any information that they recorded, including a police report. Give your lawyer a copy of everything in the police officer’s file.

Tickets issued. If you were issued a citation or a ticket related to the accident, your lawyer will want to see a copy of it.

Photographs. If your automobile was damaged, you will want to bring photos of the damage. Your attorney will use the photographs to illustrate the severity of the collision.

Statements made by Witnesses. If you had any correspondence with the insurance company about the accident, you will want to obtain a copy of what was recorded. If you have put anything in writing, your attorney needs a copy of what your wrote.

Medical records. If you are injured, you will want to bring any medical records or treatment records with you. That includes any diagnoses, x-rays, scans, or other tests related to any injuries you sustained. Make sure to bring all the information about the physicians that you saw and any hospitals where you were examined. Your attorney will have to get permission from you to obtain any records that you don’t have a copy of.

Psychological records. Since you are entitled to noneconomic damages like emotional distress, if you have sought psychological counseling related to the accident, you will want to bring a copy of a receipt to your appointment. You might have to fill out a signed release form for your lawyer to obtain any records about your care of treatment or diagnoses.

Pay records. If you have lost any time from work, you will want to bring pay stubs and calculate how much you have lost due to time off work because of your injuries. Your lawyer can use your pay stubs to come up with a fair settlement amount for economic damages like lost wages.

Although your lawyer will be doing most of the legwork, they will need your help obtaining documentation. If you can get them the information at the initial consultation, you will be that much closer to obtaining the compensation you deserve. If you have been injured in an auto accident in Arizona, call the professionals at folgerlaw.com.