People certainly know that they should see a doctor after a car accident. But many people don’t realize that they should also see a lawyer. They wait for too long thinking that they can handle the insurance company on their own. This is a mistake. The insurance company is not on your side. The adjuster may act like they are trying to help you, but their job is to pay you as little as possible. You need a lawyer from The Clark Law Office to level the playing field and get you the full value of your claim. But how do you know when it’s too late to get a lawyer?
Well, it is never too late to get a lawyer, but there are times when it could be too late, for instance:
In many states, if you want to sue a municipality for injuries caused by the carelessness of one of its workers, you must first file a “notice of claim.” This is a formal document that alerts the municipality of your intention to sue. The deadlines for filing a notice of claim vary from state to state, but they are generally short—usually just a few months. So, if you wait too long to file the notice, you may lose your right to sue altogether.
The deadlines vary depending on the type of case, but they are typically between one and six years. So, if you wait too long to file your lawsuit, you may be barred from doing so entirely.
Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. For instance, the deadline may be extended if you were a minor at the time of the accident or if you were injured in another state but now live in the state where you want to file suit. And, in some cases, the statute of limitations may not apply at all. If you’re not sure whether the deadline has passed for your case, you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.
There are many benefits to hiring an accident attorney immediately after your accident.
Experience
An experienced accident attorney will know how to build a strong case and get you the full value of your claim. It can be difficult to be objective after an accident. You may be angry, upset, or in pain. An experienced lawyer will be able to take a step back and see the situation clearly. This is important because you need to be able to make sound decisions about your case.
Maintaining Evidence
Hiring a lawyer right away will help you preserve evidence. This is significant because over time, evidence can disappear or become less reliable. For instance, witnesses may move away or forget what they saw. Physical evidence, such as skid marks on the road, may be removed or fade with time. A lawyer will take steps to preserve this evidence so that it can be used to support your case.
Investigation
Another reason why you need to hire a lawyer as soon as possible is that an investigation needs to be conducted right away. The lawyer will need to take pictures of the accident scene, speak to witnesses, and obtain the police report. All of these need to be done while the evidence is still fresh. If you wait too long, key evidence may disappear or become less reliable.
Protecting Victim From Their Own Failures
The sooner a knowledgeable personal injury accident attorney gets involved in your case, the less chance the insurance adjuster will have to downplay the merits of your claim.
If at all possible, the greatest attorneys don’t want their clients to speak with insurance companies without them there. However, if no attorney is retained, the negligent party’s insurance company will keep in touch with the accident victim in an effort to persuade them to say things that are important to the claim.
This depends on the severity of your accident and injuries. If you were seriously injured, it is probably worth it to hire a lawyer. This is because you are likely to get a much higher settlement if you have an experienced lawyer on your side.
On the other hand, if your accident was minor and you only suffered minor injuries, you may not need to hire a lawyer. In this case, you may be able to settle your claim without an attorney.
The best way to decide whether you need a lawyer is to speak to one. Many lawyers offer free consultations. This is a great opportunity to get advice about your specific situation. accident.
