when should you contact an attorney after a car accident

by Claudia Fay IV 3 min read

When Should You Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

  • If You Were Seriously Injured, Call an Attorney As Soon as Possible If you received treatment for injuries, you should contact an attorney as soon as you can. ...
  • An Attorney Can Help You Deal With Insurance Companies ...
  • Gathering Evidence ...
  • Less Stress for You ...
  • Frequently Asked Questions ...
  • Contact Us Today ...

While that may seem like a lot of time, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed in just a few weeks. That's why injured accident victims should call an attorney as soon as they are able, even if they're not certain they wish to file a lawsuit.

Full Answer

Should I call a lawyer after a car accident, or can I wait?

Since there are strict deadlines for these cases, you should contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible after you receive medical treatmen...

When do you know you need a car accident lawyer?

If you are curious about when you will need a car accident attorney, here are some telltale signs: You sustained injuries that require medical trea...

How does a lawyer help my case after a car accident?

A car accident lawyer’s most important job is proving fault and negligence after an accident. Every personal injury case has four key elements that...

What else does a car accident lawyer help with following a crash?

While the elements above have made it seem as though it is easy to prove a case, there are several other roles that an attorney has. An experienced...

How do car crashes happen?

You may be wondering how car crashes happen and if there is any way you can avoid them. While you should follow all posted signage, such as speed l...

Did you suffer injuries in a car crash?

Suffering injuries in a car accident can lead to lifelong consequences. Injuries do not only affect the person who was involved in the ancient but...

Why is it important to call an accident attorney?

That’s why it’s important that you call one of our experienced car accident attorneys as soon as possible following your accident. This ensures that our team can collect important evidence and witness accounts that could be lost over time. It also allows our legal team to go to work quickly to build a strong case for you. The sooner you call, the sooner you can get the compensation you deserve for your accident.

What happens after an accident?

After an accident, car accident victims are often left to deal with serious injuries and rising medical bills on their own. Insurance companies often offer accident victims a low-ball settlement that is just a fraction of what they need to recover. These insurance companies don’t have your best interest in mind—the only people they have in mind are their shareholders and reducing their liabilities. They may pressure accident victims into signing a settlement too quickly and you could end up with less than you need to cover your injuries.

What is the Statute of Limitations?

In the state of Arkansas, car accident victims only have three years from the date of the accident to file a claim. While this may seem like a lot of time, three years can pass quickly after a crash. You may be injured severely and focused on recovery and on improving your life. You may be struggling to make ends meet and trying to help your family stay out of bankruptcy after an accident. During this time, valuable evidence might get lost or even destroyed. Contact an experienced lawyer for your car accident immediately to begin building your case and to avoid missing any critical deadlines.

What happens if an insurance company plays hardball?

If the insurance company plays hardball, however, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party to seek damages. This often occurs when the insurance claims adjuster denies who was at fault for the accident or doesn’t agree with the severity of your injuries.

How to reduce liability in car accident?

Contact a Lawyer – Insurance companies will always seek to reduce their liabilities by offering accident victims a low-ball settlement offer. This is usually a fraction of what you need to recover. Contact an experienced car accident attorney immediately to begin building your case. Remember, contacting an attorney is not the same thing as filing a lawsuit.

What is the best way to report an accident?

Call 911 – Call 911 and report your accident, which helps alert both police officials and emergency medical teams to the scene of the accident. Your police report and your medical report will be invaluable when establishing fault and liability. Without them, it’s just your word against theirs.

What is minor collision?

Minor collisions that result in significant vehicle or property damage. Any injuries to a passenger in your own vehicle or to yourself. Any significant work missed by you or your passengers. Problems dealing with car repairs and insurance limits. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better.

Always Stay at the Accident Scene

Once you are involved in a car accident, always make sure you keep your wits about you and stay at the scene. This will be important since the police will need to speak with you about what happened.

Get Medical Treatment

When rescue personnel arrives at the accident scene, always make sure you let them examine you and treat any injuries you may have sustained. Since your adrenaline may be running quite strong due to stress, you may initially think you are not injured.

Call Police to the Scene

Along with making sure you get medical treatment at the accident scene, also call the police to the scene as well. When they arrive, they can not only make the accident scene safer, but also assess the situation and begin to make a preliminary evaluation as to who was at fault for the accident.

Obtain Contact Information

Before you exit the accident scene, always make sure you are able to get contact information from the other driver and any passengers who were also involved in the accident.

Speak to Witnesses

Along with talking to other drivers and passengers, also speak to anyone at the scene who witnessed the accident. By getting the accounts of witnesses, your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will gain critical insight into what may have happened to cause the accident.

Take Photos of the Accident Scene

While you should use your smartphone to record any conversations you have with witnesses, also use your phone to take photos of the accident scene. To begin with, focus on damage to vehicles involved in the accident and any property that was also damaged.

Never Admit Fault for the Accident

When you are talking to police or others at the accident scene, be careful you do not say anything that sounds as though you are admitting fault for the accident.

Why Should You Call a Lawyer Before Talking to the Insurance Company?

It’s always advisable to talk to a car accident attorney before you speak to an insurance company. An attorney can help you understand your rights and avoid common pitfalls.

How Can a Lawyer Help You After a South Carolina Car Accident?

If you’ve never had to file an insurance claim after an accident, you might not know what is involved and what a lawyer can do to help. Here are some of the things the legal team at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel, LLC, can do to help with the claims process:

Contact Our South Carolina Accident Law Firm If You Have Recently Been Injured in a Car Accident

The South Carolina car accident attorneys at McKinney, Tucker & Lemel, LLC, are committed to protecting the rights of crash victims in Rock Hill and other nearby communities. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, get your free consultation today to answer your questions and discuss your legal rights.

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