- April 9, 2024
- Car Accidents
You should hire an attorney as soon as possible after your car accident. The insurance companies may try to convince you to accept a lowball settlement, and a lawyer can protect you from these and other bad-faith tactics. Your lawyer must also collect all relevant evidence and file any necessary lawsuit before the filing deadline elapses.
If you wait to hire a car accident lawyer, you will weaken your case. You also run the risk of missing case-related deadlines, which can have severe financial consequences.
Reasons Not to Wait to Hire Your Car Accident Attorney
Waiting to hire your lawyer exposes you to significant risk, which includes:
- Losing evidence: Witnesses may not remember their account of events for long. Video footage may be erased or lost. If you don’t hire a lawyer to secure all relevant evidence as soon as possible, you may lose that evidence.
- Suffering a violation of your rights: Whether you know it or not, your rights may be in danger at this very moment. An insurance company may be trying to have you admit fault for an accident or accept a lowball settlement. Hire a lawyer to get the protection you need.
- Failing to document your damages: You need to document your injuries and related damages. However, you may not be sure what types of documentation to obtain. Your lawyer will know exactly which documentation to secure and use in your case.
- Missing the filing deadline for a lawsuit: There are often deadlines related to insurance claims and lawsuits. For instance, G.S. §1-52 generally requires lawyers in North Carolina to file lawsuits within three years of the harmful event. If you miss the filing deadline for your case, you generally lose your chance to pursue all the compensation you deserve.
- Losing money you deserve: If you realize any of these risks because you delay before hiring your car accident lawyer, you may lose compensation that you deserve. This is the worst-case scenario and is a compelling reason to hire your lawyer as soon as possible.
You need to get medical attention and care for yourself. However, there is no good reason to wait long before hiring your car accident attorney.
How Do I Find a Capable Car Accident Lawyer?
Once you recognize the need to hire your lawyer as soon as possible, you must begin your search for an attorney. You can find a qualified car accident lawyer by:- Searching the web: Use Google (or your search engine of choice) to search for a car accident lawyer in your area. Law firms’ websites and independent review forums can provide helpful information that helps you choose your lawyer.
- Surveying friends, family, and colleagues: You may ask people you trust if they have worked with a law firm in your area. If they have glowing reviews for a specific law firm, you may investigate further.
- Acting on local ads: You may see advertisements for local law firms in your area. You may call those firms to see if any of them are a good fit for your case.
If you have a prior relationship with an injury attorney, that lawyer may handle your car accident case.
What to Consider as You Search for a Car Accident Lawyer
Once you have identified a pool of car accident attorneys (and firms) serving your area, you may narrow down your list by considering:- Which law firms have the most results in car accident cases
- Which law firms have secured the largest financial recoveries for car accident victims
- Which law firms have the largest share of positive reviews from former clients
- Which firms have overwhelmingly negative reviews from former clients
- Which attorneys have the most experience leading car accident cases
You may find several law firms that are qualified to lead your case. You may then complete free consultations with each firm and hear their pitches for leading your case.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney After My Car Accident?
If you still wonder why you might hire an attorney to represent you after a car accident, consider that a lawyer:- Will enable you to rest and recover: Your doctor may have a long list of demands for you, including plenty of rest. When you allow a lawyer to take on your insurance claim or lawsuit, you can follow your doctor’s orders without worrying about your case.
- Will bring priceless experience to your case: There is no substitute for representing car accident victims time and time again. A lawyer’s background leading cases like yours will undoubtedly benefit your case.
- Will have dealt with insurers many times: Insurance companies sometimes use bad-faith tactics against car accident victims. Having often negotiated with insurance companies, your lawyer will spare you from such bad-faith strategies.
- Will pay the cost of completing your case: Your lawyer should use a contingency fee that requires the law firm to cover case-related costs. The firm can recover its upfront investment by securing the compensation you deserve.
- Can take your case to court, if necessary: Lawyers’ legal training allows them to handle both insurance claims and lawsuits. If it suits your best interests to file a lawsuit or go to court, your lawyer can take these steps.
The cost of car accidents often reaches the six-figure mark and can cost even more in cases of severe injuries.
Your Lawyer Will Demand the Compensation You Deserve
A car accident lawyer will demand compensation for all of your recoverable damages, which may include:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Mental health services
- Vehicle repairs
- Replacement of damaged property
- Lost income
- Diminished earning power
- Any other economic or non-economic damages resulting from your car accident
Attorneys also gather documentation of clients’ damages. Your legal team will negotiate with insurers and any other liable parties to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Find Your Car Accident Lawyer Today
Hiring a personal injury lawyer should be a leading priority after your accident. Don’t wait to find and hire your car accident attorney today.
Attorney Lakota Denton
Lakota Denton has been practicing in his own firm since 2013, focusing solely on personal injury. He is a member of the American Association of Justice, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Bar association, the American Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and was awarded Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers, the 2014 Top 40 Lawyers under 40, and the Avvo clients choice award. [ Attorney Bio ]