How Long Should I Wait After a Car Accident To Find a Lawyer?
Car Accident Lawyer
No one likes the thought of being involved in legal conflict. However, if it does come to that, it is important to have legal representation. It is never a good idea to try to represent yourself. It takes years of legal training to understand the legal process and follow what happens in a courtroom with enough confidence to act. More than that, however, representing yourself is inherently difficult. Even attorneys will commonly hire a lawyer to represent them. With this in mind, you may be wondering how long you can wait to hire an attorney after a car accident.
How Long To Wait
When it comes to hiring an attorney, the golden rule is the sooner the better. It is going to take your attorney time to get caught up on the case and do all the research necessary to properly represent you. This means your chances of winning your case are increased the sooner you hire a lawyer. If you delay too long, your lawyer will not have enough time to adequately prepare. In fact, some attorneys will refuse to represent someone if the court date is too close.
The optimal time for you to hire an attorney is as soon as it is clear a lawsuit is necessary. If the other driver does not have insurance, or if they refuse to work with you, you should immediately start speaking with potential attorneys.
Low-Cost Options
There is no question that legal representation is expensive. If you feel that you cannot afford to have an auto accident lawyer for any longer than what is absolutely necessary, there are alternatives. These are three no-cost legal options that are available to everyone in the United States:
- Visit a Legal Clinic – There are clinics throughout the nation where legal advice and sometimes representation can be found for free. You can learn more about how much you can receive by visiting and asking questions.
- Choose a Legal Aid Firm – Many law firms receive grants from the government which allows them to provide legal representation for free. These law firms participate in what is called “legal aid.”
- Hire a Pro-Bono Attorney – The American Bar Association requests that all lawyer provide about 50 hours of pro-bono service each year. This is not a legal requirement, but the recommendation is enough that it is usually not too hard to find an attorney willing to take your case for no money upfront.
Additionally, you can usually get a free consultation. This will allow you to learn more about your options before you hire an attorney.
