Should I Wait To Hire An Accident Lawyer?

Hiring an accident lawyer for help in a personal injury case is always a wise approach.

According to legal specialists, getting representation promptly is always recommended for personal injury claims that result in severe injuries, toxic exposure, or medical malpractice. Hiring a lawyer as soon as possible provides definite benefits to your case, and delaying for whatever reasons can make investigating your claim more difficult. In addition, people seldom receive fair settlements from insurance companies unless they hire a lawyer.

Reasons Why People Wait to Hire an Accident Attorney

After sustaining an accident, you might feel hiring a lawyer is overkill. You might think that your injuries are minor or that the insurance company will cover the bills - especially if you have no-fault auto accident insurance. However, the clock immediately starts counting down to deadlines for filing any personal injury lawsuit.

Delaying your case makes investigations more problematic as witnesses disappear and memories grow fuzzy. According to Cohen & Jaffe Car Accident Lawyer in Long Island, the statute of limitations, witness depositions, the accident’s forensics, and your medical records can make or break your case in an auto accident. In other words, the sooner you put things in motion, the better chances you have for full health and monetary recovery.

Your injury symptoms might not manifest right away; therefore, getting a doctor's check is critical after any auto accident injury. That safeguards your rights if the injury symptoms appear at a later date. For the safest action course, it’s important to hire an injury attorney right away after a vehicular accident, exposure to dangerous substances, a medical negligence case, or an injury caused by a defective product.

Reasons to Hire an Attorney Immediately After an Injury

Regardless of where or how you're injured, consulting with an attorney is important. Most lawyers offer a free consultation, so upfront costs should not worry you. Most people have questions after sustaining an injury, especially if another person’s negligence caused it. The more serious the accident is, the more questions you have as complications arise.

For this reason, consulting a lawyer provides the best answers to your questions and speeds up the claims process. In addition, your lawyer can shepherd you through this case and prevent you from making judgment errors that could cost you in terms of compensation. The benefits of hiring an attorney promptly include:

• Injuries Can Be Documented. Your injuries could disappear over time if you wait to file a claim. The judge or jury will see a healed person and have difficulty envisioning your injuries.
• Witnesses and Testimony Are Available. Memories fade quickly, and witnesses might move away or have just been visiting the area temporarily. It’s easy to find witnesses immediately following an accident. However, the process grows exponentially more difficult as a function of time.
• Insurance Companies Often Settle Only After a Lawsuit. Some insurance companies might fail to offer a settlement until after you’ve filed for compensation with the court. Insurance company settlements without an attorney are usually low-ball offers.
• Fast Action Indicates a Strong Case. Perception is important in settlement negotiations. For example, delays could indicate a weak case or non-serious injuries. Hiring an attorney promptly prevents these kinds of misconceptions and indicates a serious case with a high chance of winning.
• Help Negotiating with Insurance Companies. Insurance companies develop strategies to get you to accept low settlements. Hiring an attorney secures help in negotiating with insurance companies for larger settlements.
• Meet All Necessary Deadlines. Your lawyer will get you on course to meet all filing deadlines. Your case could be thrown out if you miss an important deadline.
• Lawyers Might Decline the Case. Cases delayed are often hard to prosecute, and lawyers might be unwilling to take the case if not hired initially. Moreover, some lawyers will insist on payment instead of handling the matter on contingency.
• Added Value of Your Legal Team. Having a skilled lawyer brings many benefits to your case, like experienced investigators and in-depth knowledge of local laws and practices. As you probably know, attorneys are trained to negotiate aggressively, and they often work on a contingency basis, which means they don’t get paid unless they win your case.

Hire an Attorney Immediately

Most attorneys usually specialize in personal injury cases. Some may even take further steps and specialize in auto accidents, workplace injuries, defective products, or medical malpractice cases. Personal injury means anything that harms a person mentally, emotionally, or physically. If you need a lawyer in your state, take some time and contact a reputable firm for a consultation.