when to contact a personal injury lawyer

When should you hire a personal injury lawyer?

May 07, 2021 · The average person may have no idea when the statute of limitation starts and ends. If you are late by even one day, your case will be dismissed. Thus, if you have been injured, it is highly recommended that you contact a personal injury attorney so that you do not miss the deadline for filing the case.

What happens if you wait too long to contact a lawyer?

Sep 25, 2020 · A personal injury lawyer can help you from the very start by assessing your case. From here, the attorney can determine if you have a valid claim against the other party. You've Sustained Injuries That Required Medical Assistance You should also get in touch with an attorney if you were in an accident on someone else's property.

Do I need an attorney after an accident?

If you have suffered an injury in an accident or due to the negligence of another person, you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. If you are hurt at work, injured in an auto accident, slip and fall while on someone else's property, or if someone intentionally and wrongfully injures you, you need an attorney to protect your rights and help you get the compensation that …

Can a lawyer refuse to accept me as a client?

The most ideal time to call for personal injury attorney assistance is as soon as the accident has occurred. This is particularly helpful for a couple of reasons. First, there is no disruption or complication to the series of events from the time of the accident.

The Accident Resulted From Another Party's Negligence

Distracted driving, which injured an estimated 400,000 people in the US in 2018, can be a form of negligence. An example is a driver who, while using a cell phone while operating a vehicle, hits another motorist. In this case, the one who got hit may be able to pursue a personal injury case against the at-fault driver.

You Think Your Doctor Made a Mistake

It's even more important to call a lawyer if you have a possible case of medical negligence in your hands. Medical negligence can be much more difficult to prove than say, a whiplash accident. For starters, you would need to prove that the doctor breached a standard of care.

You've Sustained Injuries That Required Medical Assistance

You should also get in touch with an attorney if you were in an accident on someone else's property. An example is if you slipped, tripped, or fell while at the grocery or supermarket. An uncleaned floor spillage may have caused your accident and injuries.

Your Injuries Led to Significant Medical and Hospital Bills

Did you know that hip fracture patients spend an estimated $40,000 in the first year of their treatment? That's a lot of money, which you may not even have to spend in the first place if it weren't for another party's fault. So, if you've been in an accident due to someone else's actions, it time to call a lawyer.

Get In Touch With a Personal Injury Lawyer Now

As you can see, getting into an accident that's not your fault is enough reason to call a lawyer. The fact alone that you ended up in the hospital with medical bills should already prompt you to lawyer up. However, it's even more critical if your prognosis involves long-term treatment.

When to call a personal injury attorney?

The most ideal time to call for personal injury attorney assistance is as soon as the accident has occurred. This is particularly helpful for a couple of reasons. First, there is no disruption or complication to the series of events from the time of the accident. Your attorney will have been in lockstep with you, with the benefit of knowing the timeline and incident details from almost the very beginning. The more time that passes between the accident and your call to the injury attorney, the more likely it is that critical information may be lost or misplaced, witnesses will forget events or be out of reach, and that medical treatment may become complicated.

What to do if you are hit by a commercial driver?

If you were hit by a commercial vehicle driver, it is especially important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. There can be particular challenges for commercial vehicle cases, whether it be an 18-wheeler, Uber, or other delivery truck. These vehicles are often owned or protected by large companies that have teams and processes in place to protect themselves in the event of accidents. They also typically have more robust insurance policies and provider relationships that are extremely difficult to face as an individual negotiating on behalf of yourself.

What is an insurance adjuster famous for?

Insurance adjusters are famous for their tactics to avoid, delay, prolong, and complicate the claims process – that is, if they aren’t outright denying your claim altogether! It can be intensely frustrating to hear little to no update and then be faced with a long-overdue follow-up question that shows no progress or being issued an unexplained denial.

What happens if you get hit by an uninsured driver?

Not only have you been inconvenienced, had your car damaged, and likely been hurt, but now the responsibility of managing the claim process falls to you and your own policy! Too many drivers didn’t follow the law and obtain the legally mandated minimum auto insurance coverage. Working with an injury attorney after collisions with these drivers helps ensure a fair outcome so that you receive your maximum compensation without being penalized for accessing your own policy coverage after an incident that wasn’t your fault. Plus, retaining an expert injury attorney means that you get your time and freedom back after the accident. Leave the hard work of dealing with the insurance company to your dedicated legal team.

Why is it important to document the scene of an accident?

Taking photos of the damage and injuries, documenting the identification of any vehicles and drivers, and exchanging contact information with witnesses and those involved all provide important information for your attorney to understand the eventfully. In addition, obtaining a police report provides a statement of the accident events from a credible authority, so we recommend getting a police report for any accident, and especially accidents where people were hurt.

When Do Most People Call a Lawyer?

If you’re like many of our clients, you might not think to call a lawyer right away. It often takes one of three situations for accident victims to decide they need help:

When Is the Best Time to Call a Lawyer?

As soon as you begin to suspect that you might need a personal injury lawyer’s help with your case, you should act right away. Every day you wait to get an attorney involved in your case puts your claim at risk. Here’s why:

When Your Injury Is Serious

If you have a very severe injury that requires emergency care, you should call a personal injury lawyer as soon as you are able. Medical bills for emergency treatment and a possibly lengthy recovery can add up fast, and insurance companies will be looking for any reason not to pay your claim.

When Your Medical Bills Are Piling Up

Even if you have health insurance, you may have significant medical expenses from your accident. If you have a high deductible plan, for example, you may have to pay thousands of dollars before your insurance company pays a dime. And even after meeting your deductible, you may have to pay co-insurance of 20% or more.

When You Get Overwhelmed

Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be daunting. The virtual mountains of paperwork and phone calls from the insurance companies, both yours and the responsible party’s, may feel impossible to navigate.

As Soon As Possible

There are several reasons you should call a personal injury lawyer as soon as you think you might need one. Many aspects of a personal injury case are time sensitive, and you don’t want to put off calling an attorney, only to find out later that the delay has harmed your chances of getting fair compensation.