Did You Cover All Bases? Intake Surveys

Volume 2 / Edition 1
This Week; Focus On: Did You Cover All Bases? Intake Surveys

Gathering information, quickly and thoroughly, after an injury or loss is the first and most important step in any accident investigation.

The components of a standard sign up package should include (but are not be limited to) the following:

1. Retainer

2. Intake Survey

3. Information Releases

Obviously, the retainer should be completed and signed first and then a comprehensive interview should be conducted via the Intake Survey. The three standard intake survey types are:

1. Motor Vehicle Accident Intake Survey

2. Negligence Intake Survey

4. Slip/Trip and Fall Intake Survey

Each intake survey is specifically designed to obtain the necessary information for each case type. The legal professional may certainly need to know the existence of additional auto insurance policies in a victim's household; part of the MVA Intake Survey. In Slip/Trip and Fall matters, a copy of the injured party's lease is helpful, noting, of course, building owner and/or management information. And, in negligence cases, knowledge of the existence of a homeowner's insurance policy may expedite a case, from notice to settlement.

Ideally, the investigator may instruct the potential client to sign the numerous information releases while conducting the intake survey, thereby, completing the assignment in a timely manner and allowing the injured party to feel secure and able to return to recuperating, knowing his lawyer has the matter well in hand.

Feel welcome to contact our offices and request any - or all - of the three intake surveys. (Each survey is 4 - 5 pages in length.) Coupled with a DMV check or last owner search and or site survey; today's investigator should be fully prepared to complete the initial groundwork in a comprehensive and expeditious manner.

BNI investigators: Street smart; net savvy.

I look forward to any comments you may have or and questions I can answer for you.

Sincerely,

Lina M. Maini
Editor, The Beacon Bulletin
CEO, Beacon Network Investigations, Inc.