According to InjuryFacts, there were 48.3 million injuries and 173,040 preventable deaths among Americans in 2019. In these cases, a personal injury lawyer may have come in handy and helped victims receive some compensation. When you’ve been involved in an accident, you may be wondering how soon you should file a personal injury claim. The answer is as soon as possible. Here are seven reasons why you shouldn’t delay seeking legal assistance after an accident.
1. Beat the Statute of Limitations
Every state has its own specific “statute of limitations” which sets a deadline for filing personal injury claims. If you wait too long, your claim will be barred and you won’t be able to seek compensation. In most states, the deadline is two years from the date of the accident, but it can be as little as six months in some states. Don’t wait to find out. Contact a personal injury lawyer in your state as soon as possible after an accident.
2. Increase Your Chances of Success
The sooner you contact a personal injury lawyer, the better your chances of success. Your lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and gather evidence to support your claim. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to find witnesses and gather other evidence. In addition, the sooner you file your claim, the fresher your memory will be of the accident and what happened. This will be important if you have to testify at a trial.
3. Address Medical Needs Early
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may need medical treatment. The sooner you seek treatment, the better. Not only will this help you recover quickly, but it’ll also provide documentation of your injuries. This documentation will be important evidence in your personal injury claim. If you don’t have health insurance, you may have to pay for your own medical treatment out of pocket. This can be very expensive, especially if you need surgery or other major medical procedures.
The bills from medical treatment can add up quickly, so you may be concerned about the cost. A personal injury lawyer can help you recover these costs from the responsible party. In many cases, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if you win your case. By doing this, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for a lawyer, you can simply focus on getting better.
4. Keep Employers in the Know
If your injuries prevent you from working, you may miss out on wages. The sooner you file your personal injury claim, the sooner you can get compensation for these lost wages. In addition, if your injuries are permanent and prevent you from returning to work, your personal injury claim can provide for your future lost earnings.
5. Receive Compensation for Injuries
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. A personal injury claim can provide you with the compensation you deserve, including money for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
6. Benefit From the Risk
Some people are hesitant to file a personal injury claim because they don’t want to go to court. But, in most cases, personal injury claims are settled out of court. Even if your case does go to trial, you will have a personal injury lawyer to represent you and protect your interests.
7. File a Claim
If you’ve been in an accident, you may be entitled to certain insurance benefits, such as personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage. However, in many cases, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim to get these benefits. If you’re thinking about not filing a personal injury claim because you don’t want to go to court, you should know that you may need to file a claim in order to get any of your insurance benefits.
You have a legal right to file a personal injury claim if you’ve been injured in an accident. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Don’t wait to file your claim. The sooner you file, the better. Contact our team at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey for professional help.