5 Reasons To Call a Lawyer Right Away After a Car Accident
Car Accident Lawyer
The period just after a car accident can be a bewildering time. Your first priority should be to seek medical attention to determine if you have any serious injuries and receive treatment for them if you do, like a lawyer such as a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Greenspan & Greenspan P.C would advise. However, one of the initial things you should do after a car accident is to contact a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury case. Here are some reasons why this is so important.
1. Statute of Limitations
The law imposes a time limit during which you must file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. The amount of time the statute of limitations affords you for a personal injury case varies by state. Some states only give you one year in which to act, while others will grant you five or six. However, once the statute of limitations runs out, you no longer have the right to take any legal action. Therefore, it is important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible following the accident so you can be sure to start any legal proceedings within the time frame allowed.
2. Unintentionally Damaging Statements to Insurance Companies
Within a few days of the accident, an adjuster with the other driver’s insurance company will probably call you to offer you a claim settlement. The conversation may seem friendly and casual but there are two very important reasons you should be on your guard. First, the settlement you are offered will probably be a lot less than you deserve. Second, the adjuster is intentionally trying to get you to let your guard down so that you will say something that will hurt your case and help theirs. If you hire a lawyer early on, you can get advice about what to say, and not say, to the insurance company. Better yet, your lawyer may assume responsibility for talking to insurance adjusters, saving you the trouble.
3. Preservation of Critical Evidence
Once you hire a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury case, he or she can start the process of gathering evidence to support your claim. The longer you wait to hire a lawyer, the greater the chance that valuable evidence will be lost or destroyed. Hiring a lawyer quickly can result in a stronger case.
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency basis, which means you don’t have to pay any money upfront and the fees come out of your award or settlement. This means that you have nothing to lose by contacting a law office in your area and seeing how a car accident lawyer can help you.
