Law Office of Michael D. Waks

A Lawyer You Can Trust

No Fee Unless You Win

Call888.394.1174

Available 24/7

  • Home
  • Attorney Profile
  • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Long Beach
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Cardiff
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Auto & Car Accidents
      • Bus Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
      • DUI Victim
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Premises Liability
      • Construction Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Electrical Accidents
      • Private Property Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Accident
      • Swimming Pool Accidents
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Brain Injury
      • Burn Injury
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Boating Accidents
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Legal Malpractice
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Product Liability
      • Spinal Injury
  • Case Results
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • California Law Enforcement Information
    • California Personal Injury Laws and Statutory Rules
    • Other Resources
    • Personal Injury Law FAQs
    • Personal Injury Resources
    • Physical & Emotional Recovery Support
    • Southern California Courts
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

March 8, 2023 by Michael Waks

woman texting and driving

Distracted drivers tend to leave a lot of devastation in their wake. Sadly, distracted driving has become a growing problem on our roads, and many innocent victims are left to pick up the pieces after getting hurt in a crash caused by someone else’s careless behavior.

If you or a loved one was struck by a motorist who wasn’t paying attention, you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. Thankfully, a resourceful lawyer can help. With the right strategy, you may even be able to secure compensation for all the losses you end up incurring. 

The first step to building a solid claim with help from an attorney is scheduling an initial consultation. During this meeting, the lawyer will assess your case, so they can explain your rights and options.

To ensure it’s as productive as possible, here are a few steps you can take to prepare for it:

  • Gather all relevant documentation that applies to the accident or its aftermath. Examples include police reports, medical records, and property damage evaluations. These documents will inevitably serve as the foundation on which you build your claim. What’s more, they’ll give your attorney a starting point for their investigation.
  • Write down a detailed account of what happened, including the date, time, location, flow of traffic, and weather conditions. No detail is too small to include. 
  • Make a list of all the expenses you’ve incurred since the distracted driving accident that you wouldn’t have had to cover had you not gotten hurt. This might include office copays, property repairs, medical equipment expenses, and the cost of reasonably necessary replacement services. If you’ve been unable to work because of your injuries, you should also track every missed paycheck. All such losses are recoverable under California tort law.
  • Compile any evidence you gathered before leaving the scene, like photographs of the wreckage, eyewitness statements, and dash camera footage. 
  • Keep a daily journal. Detailed entries about how your injuries are hurting your quality of life will help your attorney gauge the extent of your non-economic damages like pain and suffering.
  • Record a list of questions for the firm. If you have grounds for a claim, you’ll get the chance to ask questions at the end of the meeting. Use this time to determine whether you want to proceed with the firm’s representation. 

Discuss Your Claim with a Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Long Beach 

Your Injuries Are Personal to Me 

If you or a loved one was hurt in a distracted driving car accident, turn to the Law Office of Michael D. Waks. With our strategic counsel and compassionate support, you can focus on your recovery and get back to living your life to the fullest. Call (562) 206-1939 or submit our Contact Form to schedule a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Long Beach. 

Download Our Car Accident Emergency Response .PDF

If you find yourself involved in another car accident, it’s important to document the scene thoroughly. In the chaos that often follows a crash, it can be challenging to know where to begin. To assist you in these moments, we have created a Car Accident Emergency Response guide. It’s a .pdf that can be downloaded for free and kept in your vehicle for quick reference in case of an accident. Click HERE to access it now.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Waks
Michael Waks
Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.
Michael Waks
Latest posts by Michael Waks (see all)
  • How Can Social Media Activity Impact Your Personal Injury Case? - May 21, 2025
  • Why Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make a Difference in California - May 14, 2025
  • How Insurance Companies Review Injury Claims in California - April 30, 2025
Share here...

Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Get a Free Consultation

  • Submission of this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other Areas We Serve

  • Personal Injury Lawyer Wilmington
  • Personal Injury Lawyer San Pedro
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Compton
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Paramount
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Signal Hill
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Lakewood
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Seal Beach

Testimonials

Michael represented me in a personal injury case and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very first consultation he made sure that I was always aware of my options and up to speed with every aspect of my case. He answered all my questions and used his experience and expertise to help guide my decisions instead of trying to make them all for me. He not only ensured that the settlement I received was more than enough to cover all my bills and expenses but he also made sure I had piece of mind and would be taken care of going forward.

– Eric G.‎
Read More Testimonials

Categories

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Disability
  • Distracted Driving Accident
  • Dog Bites
  • DUI Victim
  • Electrical Accidents
  • Government Entity Claims
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Private Property Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Swimming Pool Accidents
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death
– BACK TO TOP –

Visit Us

Long Beach Office
1 World Trade Center, Suite 800
Long Beach, California 90831
P: 562-206-1939
F: 562-676-4388
Get Directions

Cardiff Office
160 Chesterfield Dr., Suite 200
Cardiff, CA 92007
760-767-8031
Get Directions

Call Us

888-394-1174
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Personal injury lawyer Long Beach
Car accident lawyer Long Beach
Google Review
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star

Michael Waks is The attorney you want to resolve your accident issues, period. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and gets maximum results when you are injured.

— Joe M
  • facebook-app-symbol
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Scholarship
  • Sitemap

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing formal legal advice.

Copyright © 2025 by Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

Website & SEO By Sutton Digital Marketing