The first call is a free case review. You will be asked what happened, when it happened, who was involved, whether you have seen a doctor, and what insurance is in play. It usually takes under thirty minutes, carries no obligation, and stays confidential even if the firm does not take your case.
What the Call Is For
A free case review does three things. You describe what happened. The firm figures out whether it can actually help — whether there is a viable claim, whether the deadline is intact, and whether there is insurance to pay it. And you decide whether you want to work with these people.
All three matter equally. A consultation is not a sales appointment, and you are not expected to commit to anything on the phone. Nothing is signed during the call itself.
Jim Ross Law Group takes these calls Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, with Saturday appointments available. You can do it by phone at 817-275-4100 or in person at 2201 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite110, in Arlington. Either works; the phone is faster.
What You’ll Be Asked
The questions are practical, and they follow the order a claim actually gets built in. You will not be quizzed, and ‘I don’t know’ is a completely acceptable answer to any of them.
Expect roughly this list:
- When and where it happened — the date, the approximate time, and the street or intersection.
- What happened, in your words — how the vehicles or the fall occurred, from your point of view. Say what you remember, not what you think sounds best.
- Whether police came — which agency responded, whether a report was made, and the report number if you have it.
- Your injuries and treatment — what hurts, whether you went to an emergency room or urgent care, what you were told, and what treatment is scheduled.
- The insurance picture — the other driver’s carrier, your own insurance carrier, any claim number, and the name of any adjuster who has contacted you.
- What you have already said or signed — whether you gave a recorded statement, signed a medical authorization, or accepted any payment.
- Work and income — whether you have missed time, whether the injury affects what you can do on the job, and whether your medical provider gave you an off-work slip and if so, for how long.
- Who else was there — passengers, witnesses, and anyone who took photos or video.
What to Have Ready
Nothing on this list is required. Having any of it makes the answers more precise, particularly about coverage and deadlines.
Do not delay the call to collect documents. The crash report alone can take up to 14 days to be ready in TxDOT’s system, and some evidence — surveillance video especially — can be gone before then.
What helps
Why it matters
Where to get it
Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report
Names, insurance information, the officer’s narrative and diagram
TxDOT C.R.I.S. online: up to 14 days to be ready
Photos and video
Vehicle damage, scene conditions, visible injuries
Your phone; ask passengers and witnesses for theirs
Your auto policy declarations page
Shows whether you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist and/or personal injury protection coverage
Your insurer’s app, website, or your renewal packet
Letters, emails and claim numbers
Identifies the adjuster and the claims already opened
Mail and voicemail from either insurance company
Discharge paperwork or medical records
Links the injury to the date of the crash
The emergency room, urgent care, or clinic you visited
Proof of missed work
Supports a lost-earnings claim
Pay stubs or a letter from your employer
Bring what you have. None of it is required to make the call.
Confidential, No Obligation, Even If We Say No
What you say in a consultation is treated as confidential whether or not the firm ends up representing you. Texas lawyers owe that duty to people who consult them, not only to clients who sign, and it does not lapse because the answer was no. But, the law firm does not represent you until you sign a fee agreement. But, the law firm does not represent you until you sign a fee agreement. But, the law firm does not represent you until you sign a fee agreement.
And the answer is sometimes no. A firm may decline because the limitations period has run, because there is no insurance or defendant able to pay, because another lawyer is already representing you, or because the claim is worth less than it would cost to pursue. You should be told which reason applies, in plain terms, and you are free to get a second opinion. Being turned down by one firm does not mean the case has no value.
You also leave with no obligation. There is no consultation fee, no charge if the firm declines, and nothing to sign unless and until you decide to hire someone.
What Happens After the Call
If the firm takes the case, you get a written contingency fee agreement. Read it before you sign it: the fee percentage before and after a lawsuit is filed, how case expenses are handled if the case is lost, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. Ask for a sample settlement statement if the arithmetic is unclear.
Then, the work starts. Letters of representation go to the insurance carriers, which means the adjusters call the firm instead of calling you. Medical records and bills are requested by the firm. Evidence that disappears on its own — surveillance footage, vehicle data, a damaged vehicle still sitting at a tow yard — gets chased first.
Deadlines get calendared immediately. Texas generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit (CPRC §16.003), and a claim involving a governmental unit requires written notice within six months (CPRC §101.101), with some city charters requiring it sooner. Those dates drive everything that follows.
The consultation is free, the number is 817-275-4100, and there is no fee unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the free consultation take?
Most first calls are short — long enough to cover what happened, your injuries, and the insurance picture. A complicated crash with several vehicles, a commercial truck, or a death in the family takes longer, and an in-person meeting with documents to review naturally runs longer than a phone call. You will not be rushed off the phone.
Am I obligated to hire the firm if I call?
No. The call is free and carries no commitment in either direction. You can call, ask every question you have, hang up, and call three other firms. Nothing is signed on the call itself, and a firm that pressures you to commit during a first conversation is telling you how it operates.
Can my spouse or my adult child call on my behalf?
Yes, and it is common when someone is still in the hospital or heavily medicated. A family member can describe what happened and gather information. The injured person still has to make the decision about hiring a lawyer and sign the agreement, unless a court has appointed someone to act for them. For an injured child, a parent handles it.
What if I don't have the crash report yet?
Call anyway. Reports can take up to 14 days to appear in TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System, and the report is not needed to evaluate whether you have a claim. A law firm can obtain it later. Note that the old CR-2 driver self-report form no longer exists, so if no officer came to the scene, say so on the call.
Is what I say confidential if the firm turns down my case?
Yes. Confidentiality attaches to the consultation itself, not to whether a fee agreement gets signed. That is why you can speak freely about things you are worried about — a ticket you received, a beer you had earlier, a prior injury to the same body part. Those facts change how a case is handled and hiding them helps no one.
Should I call before or after I see a doctor?
See a doctor first if you are hurt. Medical care is both the priority and the foundation of the claim: a gap between the crash and the first visit is the single most common argument an adjuster makes for paying less. You can call the firm from the waiting room if you like, but do not delay treatment to make a phone call.
The insurance company already offered me money. Can I still call?
Yes, and do it before you accept. Have the offer letter or email in front of you when you call. A settlement is final once you sign the release or cash the check from the insurance company, so the useful moment for a second opinion is while the offer is open, not after. If you have already cashed a check, say that on the call as well.
Can I come to the office instead of calling?
Yes. The Arlington office is at 2201 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite110, open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, with Saturday appointments available. In-person meetings are useful when there are documents, photographs, or injuries to look at, or when you would simply rather have the conversation face to face. Call 817-275-4100 to set a time.
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Jim Ross Law Group, P.C., 2201 E Lamar Blvd #110, Arlington, TX 76006.