Even if you’re the most careful person and take all the necessary precautions, accidents can happen due to the other party’s negligence. If you were a victim of a car accident or a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering whether you should talk to a personal injury lawyer.
The truth is that you don’t require an attorney to file a personal injury claim, but having an attorney by your side is the best chance you have to secure compensation for the damages.
When to Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer
After getting involved in an accident, you may feel confused or stressed out with all the hospital visits and calls from the insurance company. You may forget that in such times, an attorney can help alleviate that stress by handling your claims.
This is when you should reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Immediately
The sooner you receive legal representation, the better it will be for your personal injury case.
An attorney can help you avoid costly mistakes and guide you through complex legal procedures. They can also assist you in consulting medical experts and handling your claims.
The earlier you reach out to an attorney, the better you’ll be able to recall the events leading up to the accident. If you wait longer, chances are you’re going to forget important details that may prove to be essential to your case. If you believe you have been a victim of sexual harassment, it is important to reach out to qualified sexual harassment lawyers as soon as possible to ensure that your legal rights are protected and to maximize the chances of a successful resolution.
Prior to the Statute of Limitations Expiring
Each state in the country has its statute of limitations, or deadlines to file claims. Typically, there is a two-year deadline following the date of the injury to file claims against the relevant insurance company.
2 years may sound like a lot of time, but insurance companies like to draw out claims in the hopes that the injured victim settles for much less.
The sooner you reach out to an attorney, the faster they will have your case ready and can begin with filing the claim. Read on to learn more.
To Identify the At-fault Party
In some cases, it may be difficult to determine the at-fault party. At times, there may be multiple at-fault parties.
An experienced attorney can help investigate the events leading up to the accident to identify all the parties responsible for your loss.
Before Signing Documents
When you call the insurer to report the accident, they will assign a claims adjuster to your case whose only job is to reduce the value of your claim and ensure a minimal payout.
You may believe that the claims adjuster is looking out for your best interests, but that’s not true.
Claim adjusters may ask you to sign documents or recall the facts of the incident. Don’t speak to them before speaking to an attorney. They’re just scooping for information to use against you or get you to sign a minimum settlement amount.
If you suffered injuries in an accident that was not your fault, you should talk to an experienced personal injury attorney to learn your rights as an injured victim.
