Is It Too Late to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney for My Car Accident?
The days or even weeks after you’ve been in a serious car wreck can be very stressful. This is especially the case if you’ve sustained injuries. In addition to tending to your medical care, you’ll also have to keep up with follow-up appointments and rearrange your work schedule in case you need to take time away to heal. Of course, you’ll also have to go through the hassle of going through the right channels to have your vehicle repaired or replaced.
With all the tasks you have to complete as an accident victim, you may not have had time to hire an attorney. If you’ve noticed that it’s been months since your accident and you don’t have a lawyer, you may feel like it’s too late to retain a lawyer for your case.
The good news is that there isn’t a time limit in which you can contact a lawyer to take over your car accident case. Just because you didn’t hire an attorney right away doesn’t mean you can’t get a lawyer on your side today. There are several benefits to hiring an attorney, and you should be aware of these benefits so you’ll know what to expect during each phase of your case.
Why You Need an Attorney
A lawyer can evaluate your case and let you know which parties you can expect a settlement from. The attorney takes a look at all the losses you sustained because of the accident, whether the losses are economic or unrelated to money. With a lawyer on your side, you can demand a settlement that reflects the hardship you’ve endured because of the accident.
It’s best to hire a lawyer with extensive experience in car accident litigation. This legal professional is familiar with the tricks and tactics of the insurance company. In many cases, insurance organizations will try to get you to settle for less money than you deserve. An attorney will also ensure your rights are protected throughout your case.
If the insurance company doesn’t settle your car accident case for an acceptable amount, your attorney can file a lawsuit to represent you when you go to court. This is a helpful tool to help you get the money you’re entitled to.
The Best Time to Hire a Lawyer
You can hire a lawyer a few weeks or months after your accident, but that doesn’t mean this is the best solution. If you want to start the process of allowing a lawyer to investigate your claim, you could experience loss of critical evidence for your case. If possible, you should get witness statements as soon after the crash as possible. Memory fails over time –even statements made a few days after the incident may not be as reliable as the statements immediately after a wreck.
Know the Statute of Limitations
Make sure you know the statute of limitations for your state when it comes to personal injury cases. In some areas, you’ll have about two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. This may seem like a long time, but when you’re trying to deal with the effects of an accident, two years isn’t as long as it seems. The courts will throw out your claims if you file them after the statute of limitation has lapsed. This means you don’t have a chance of receiving a settlement for your pain and suffering or losses.
A car accident lawyer can represent you when dealing with insurance companies. If you’ve been hurt in a car wreck because of the negligence of another driver, make sure you talk a lawyer as soon as you can, even if you’ve already started the settlement process. This will expedite the process and ensure your protection throughout each phase of the car accident case.
