3 Reasons You Should Not Put Off Contacting An Accident Lawyer After Being In A Car Crash
Many people want to at least try and settle their own personal injury claim after being involved in a car crash before hiring an accident lawyer. In many cases, this desire is born out of the hope that they will not need to pay legal fees. While the temptation to go this route may be understandable, deciding to take this approach can ultimately backfire. If you are thinking about putting off hiring a lawyer regarding your accident claim, you will want to consider the three facts outlined below before making your final decision.
There Are Time Limits
While it is rarely a good idea to accept the very first settlement offer that the insurance company makes, it is important to note that you also don't want to drag the settlement process out too long because there are time limits associated with your right to file a lawsuit with the court if you and the insurance company are not able to reach a settlement. While technically the insurance company can still choose to pay you some type of settlement after this time limit expires, the likelihood that this will happen is quite slim since you will have lost all of your leverage once your right to legal recourse has expired.
The time limits in your case are established by law and will apply regardless of whether or not you are represented by legal counsel. In order to ensure an accident lawyer has enough time to properly prepare a case to bring before the court, it is vital that you reach out to a lawyer regarding your case as soon as possible.
Evidence May Be Time Sensitive
In the event that the insurance company decides to challenge liability in your case, you may need to present evidence in order to prove that you were not at fault for causing the accident that resulted in your injuries. You may also find yourself needing to provide evidence that your injuries were in fact suffered during the accident if there is any question regarding the timeline associated with these injuries. However, if this evidence is not collected right away, you may not get an opportunity to collect it later. For instance, if road conditions played a role in your accident, these conditions are likely to change over time. Consulting an accident lawyer right away will give them the opportunity to collect as much evidence as possible to best pursue your claim.
You Can't Undo Some Mistakes
If you make mistakes while attempting to pursue your own settlement, you may not be able to undo the damage that these mistakes caused even with the help of an attorney. For example, if you make statements to the insurance company that ultimately hurt your case, even the most qualified attorney will not be able to unring this bell. However, consulting an accident lawyer will ensure that you never make this type of mistake.
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