Why You Should Contact A Lawyer Immediately After an Accident

Key Takeaways

• In any accident case, it’s mandatory to hire a lawyer to navigate through complex legal laws.
• A skilled lawyer knows how to efficiently negotiate with insurance companies and get the maximum compensation.
• They can also help you in gathering and preserving crucial evidence.
• They work with experts to collect vital information about the case.
• A lawyer can take care of all the deadlines in the legal proceedings.
• They can give you a total estimation of the damages that you have dealt with both physically and mentally.

San Francisco, which is located in Northern California, is a major cultural and financial center. It is globally recognized for its iconic landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The city is famous for its rolling hills and its vibrant neighborhoods.

Every year, car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and workplace accidents affect millions of people. These accidents often lead to stressful consequences like medical bills, lost wages, and severe physical injury. 

But when to call a lawyer after an accident? It is hard to make decisions at such times. Most individuals prefer to handle this situation independently, but this doesn’t work. 

Instead, contacting a lawyer immediately after an accident can increase your chance of getting better compensation. Delaying this decision can ruin your claim. 

When To Call A Lawyer After An Accident?

A San Francisco injury attorney knows how to tackle such obstacles. They know about the tactics insurance companies use to minimize your claim. 

Also, they have years of experience in negotiating with insurance companies. This article gives you compelling reasons why it is crucial to hire a lawyer after an accident.

Negotiate A Fair Settlement

Insurance adjusters are very well trained to lower your payouts. Handling a negotiation without experience could be a big disadvantage for you. Insurance companies have a lot of legal resources working for them. They are in a default position to you as little as possible.

If you try to work on your own and directly with the insurance company, they will definitely try to underbid you for the accident and the resulting damage, leaving you with property damage expenses, medical bills, and more.

This is when you need a trained lawyer. A skilled lawyer knows about the tactics insurance companies use and can counter them with ease because they have years of experience. 

Having a strong negotiator on your side increases the chance of getting a fair settlement. If by chance your negotiation fails, a skilled lawyer can prepare to take your case to court. 

Preserve Key Evidence

When to call a lawyer after an accident? In an accident case, evidence is a very important factor to prove your innocence and file a claim. You will need evidence to negotiate and win a lawsuit.

Evidence fades away easily, like eyewitnesses may relocate, skid marks may disappear, and security footage may be overwritten. The insurance company is not going to pay you, depending on your statement. They will require proof.

They will want to see whether the insured driver caused the crash and the injury to you. Moreover, if there is video footage of the accident happening, it can work in your favour. But it is easily lost and overwritten, so you will have to act fast on it.

So, it is important to gather and preserve them as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you in both collecting and preserving valuable evidence. 

Work With Experts

A lawyer can also work with experts to collect information and prove the connection between the accident and your case. 

Experts like accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals provide crucial information about the accident. These reports can be very helpful for your future legal proceedings.

Avoiding Deadlines

Every state has certain laws called the “statute of limitations.” This sets the timeframe for initiating legal proceedings in both civil and criminal cases. It differs from state to state. If the deadline is missed, it will be hard to file a claim. 

You might think you have a lot of time, but the case might be different. It is not possible for you to know all the statutes of limitations, and that can affect your case. Moreover, you will need time to prepare for a winning case.

If you wait until the last moment, your lawyer might not be able to prepare for the case in the best possible way. They might not be in the right position to proceed with the case.

A lawyer ensures that you won’t miss those deadlines and act swiftly. Waiting too long can result in losing your right to file a claim. 

Calculating Damages

Accident-related damages include more than just medical bills. A lawyer will consider long-term factors like medical expenses and lost wages. 

You can’t make a claim and decide the amount you should be getting all by yourself. There might be various things to consider that you are not aware of. You have to deal with the financial situation, medical treatment, and a lot more.

Moreover, you might be dealing with a lot and rebuilding your life. Dealing with the financial part of the case is the last thing you would want on your plate.

They team up with an economic expert to calculate the total damage and claim compensation accordingly. They prevent you from settling too quickly for lesser compensation.

It Is Better To Take Help

When to call a lawyer after an accident? Now that you have an idea about it, you should not delay and get a lawyer immediately after you have been in an accident. Just get yourself to a safe place, get some first aid and initial treatment, and then get yourself a lawyer.

Also, there is an option for a free consultation without any pressure for hiring them. You can consult your friends and family to get an idea about the best attorney you can get and how much they can charge you.