What Happens After You Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you’ve recently been injured in an accident and hired a personal injury attorney, you may be wondering what happens next. Many people have never been through the legal process before, and the early part of a case can feel unfamiliar.
This first stage is often called the new case setup phase. It’s the initial phase where your attorney and paralegal begin building the foundation of your case, communicating with the insurance companies, and making sure everything is set up properly from the start.
At McMullin Injury Law, we believe that clear communication early on makes the entire process smoother. Below is a breakdown of what to expect during the new case setup phase, what your legal team is doing behind the scenes, and how you can help protect your case from day one.
The New Case Setup Phase: Your Case Starts Here
Once you hire a personal injury attorney, your case officially begins. This phase is about organization, communication, and getting all the right pieces in place so the case can move forward efficiently.
You are not expected to know the legal system. That’s why you hired an attorney. The goal of the new case setup phase is to make sure you feel supported, informed, and confident about what happens next.
Who You Will Communicate With: Attorney vs. Paralegal
In most personal injury cases, you will work closely with both an attorney and a paralegal.
Your paralegal will typically be your most frequent point of contact. They help keep the case moving by:
Collecting information
Requesting documents
Following up on records
Checking in on your treatment and progress
Helping you stay updated throughout the process
Your attorney will oversee the legal strategy and help with bigger decisions, including:
Case value discussions
Settlement strategy
Legal questions and advice
Negotiation and litigation decisions
This team approach helps ensure you get consistent communication and that your case progresses without unnecessary delays.
What Your Legal Team Needs Early On
In the first days and weeks of your case, your legal team will reach out to gather key information. The goal is to start your case on the right foot and make sure no important details are missing.
Some of the most common items your team may request include:
Insurance claim numbers (if you already have them)
Police report information
Photos of vehicle damage or injuries
Contact information for involved parties
Witness information (if available)
Any documents you’ve already received from insurance companies
If something is missing, don’t worry. Your legal team will help track it down. The point is simply to gather the basics early so your case is set up correctly.
Your Attorney Will Contact the Insurance Companies
One of the first major steps your attorney takes is notifying the insurance companies that you are represented.
This is extremely important because once an attorney is involved, insurance communication should change.
Your legal team will make sure:
The correct claims are opened
The proper insurance policies are identified
The adjusters are notified
All communications are routed through the law firm
This helps prevent confusion and protects you from being pressured into statements that can later be used against you.
Why You Should Stop Talking to the Other Insurance Adjuster
After an accident, it is very common for the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster to call quickly. They may sound friendly and helpful — but their job is to protect the insurance company, not you.
Insurance adjusters are trained to get information that can reduce the value of your claim. They may ask questions that seem harmless but are designed to create problems later.
Once you hire a personal injury lawyer, communication with the other driver’s insurance company should stop. That is one of the main reasons people hire an attorney in the first place.
In some cases, it may still be appropriate to speak with your own insurance company about PIP benefits. But your legal team will guide you on that and help you avoid mistakes.
Social Media: A Common Mistake That Can Hurt Your Case
Social media is one of the most overlooked issues in the early phase of an injury claim.
Many people don’t realize that insurance companies have been known to monitor social media accounts. Even a small post can be taken out of context.
For example, if someone comments, “How are you doing?” and you reply, “I’m okay,” an insurance company may argue that you were not truly injured.
Even a simple statement like “I was in a car accident” can create issues later. Adjusters may use posts, photos, captions, and even comments to try to downplay your injuries or challenge your credibility.
The safest approach during a personal injury case is to be very cautious about what you post online.
Two Big Questions Everyone Asks Early: How Long Will This Take and What Is My Case Worth?
During the new case setup phase, most clients have two major questions:
1. How long will my case take?
The honest answer is: it depends.
A personal injury case can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The biggest factors include:
How serious your injuries are
How long it takes you to heal
Whether treatment is ongoing
How complex the case is
How cooperative the insurance company is
Whether the case needs litigation
In most cases, the biggest driver early on is your medical recovery. Until your injuries are understood and documented, it is difficult to determine the full value of your claim.
2. What is my case worth?
This is also a good question — and one you should feel comfortable discussing with your attorney as the case progresses.
However, case value is not a simple formula. Every injury case is different, and the value depends on many factors, including:
The severity of the injury
Medical bills and future care needs
Insurance policy limits
Lost wages
Preexisting conditions
How the injury affected your daily life
Emotional and mental impact
How long recovery took
How permanent the injury is
As your case progresses and more information becomes available, your legal team can give you a clearer range of potential outcomes.
Why Communication Matters During the Early Phase
The most important theme of the new case setup phase is communication.
Your legal team cannot protect your case if they don’t know what is happening. That’s why staying in touch is important — especially if:
You change doctors
You move
You receive new diagnoses
You get an MRI or specialist referral
You receive paperwork from insurance
Good communication early helps prevent delays later and allows your legal team to guide you through the process with confidence.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Next Steps
If you’ve been injured in an accident and have questions about what happens next, working with an experienced personal injury law firm can make all the difference.
At McMullin Injury Law, we help injury victims throughout St. George, Cedar City, and Southern Utah understand every phase of the claim process and move forward with clarity.