How to Know It’s Time to Contact a Lawyer After an Accident
If you or a member of your family have been injured in a car accident,slip and fall, or other accident, you may be wondering if you could be entitled to compensation for the pain, suffering, medical bills, and other losses. You have to take certain steps to preserve your legal rights in this situation, and legal advice can be very helpful, but you may worry that you’re getting ahead of yourself if you call an attorney too early. So how long should you wait?
At Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC, we are focused on fully meeting the needs of our clients, and we believe it is never too soon to seek advice from a personal injury attorney. We can help you avoid mistakes that could prevent you from recovering what you rightfully deserve. So here’s what you need to know about waiting to contact a personal injury attorney.
It Doesn’t Cost You Extra to Work with an Attorney from the Very Beginning
Personal injury attorneys generally work on a contingent fee basis rather than billing on an hourly basis. A contingent fee is based on a percentage of the amount you receive from a settlement or lawsuit when your case is successful. It is not due until the end of the case, and if, for some reason, your attorney is unable to succeed in recovering compensation, you do not owe attorneys fees.
Since the fee you pay at the end is based on the amount you recover rather than how much time the attorney spends working on your case, it makes sense for you to start working with an attorney as soon as possible. You’ll get more legal advice and assistance for the same fee. But this is not actually the most important reason to start working with an attorney sooner rather than later.
Advice from Your Attorney Can Help You Avoid Common Mistakes That Could Cost You
After major events like a truck accident, insurance investigators and corporate attorneys often start asking the victims questions immediately while they are still disoriented and before they’ve had time to get legal advice. These experienced defense advocates are trying to get you to say or do something that allows them to shift liability to you or reduce the amount of money they will need to pay out for your losses.
An attorney could warn you about these tactics and help you understand what you can and cannot safely do and say to preserve your right to recovery. Additionally, your attorney could explain the best steps to take to help build your case for maximum compensation.
An Attorney Will Explain the Situation
You do not have to worry about whether it is the ”right” time to contact an attorney. As noted above, there are many ways an experienced personal injury lawyer can help right from the start. If your accident is one where an attorney may not be able to assist, the attorney you talk to will explain why.
While we can’t speak for other law firms, at Michael M. Day Law Firm, we offer free case evaluations where you can speak with us with no obligations or costs. You have nothing to lose, so we urge you to call us as soon as possible after an accident. If, for some reason, we will not be able to help with your case, it’s better to know that sooner rather than later. If we can help you, we will work to make sure that all deadlines are complied with so that it won’t be too late to pursue your best claim for damages.
An Attorney Can Help Ensure That You Receive Proper Medical Care
Did you know that the most important thing you can do to help yourself legally and financially after an accident is to prioritize your health? An experienced personal injury attorney will tell you this right off the bat, and may be able to help you steer you toward the right medical care and provide assistance with care costs. You need to get a thorough medical exam and be sure to follow the doctor’s instructions. In other words, put your health first.
This helps give you the best chance of making a full medical recovery, but it can also help with your financial recovery. Getting a timely exam can provide evidence of your injuries and how those injuries are connected with the accident.
If you don’t have medical insurance and are concerned about the cost of care, an attorney may be able to help you find doctors who will assist you now in exchange for a promise to have fees covered from the legal recovery later.
Your Attorney Can Help You Gather Evidence to Establish Liability
In order to receive compensation for your injuries, you need to be able to prove that someone else’s negligence or deliberate wrongdoing caused your losses. By doing so, you demonstrate that they are liable for causing you harm and need to pay compensation.
Demonstrating liability is not easy. It requires collecting evidence and presenting that evidence with persuasive arguments to show why and how the accident occurred and how it could have been prevented if the other party involved had acted responsibly. In most cases, insurance company attorneys representing the other party will be making their best arguments to show why their client is not responsible and they may try to prove that you are actually at fault.
Right after the accident, they will be gathering evidence to make their legal arguments, and you need to do the same. Having the help of an experienced attorney at this point can be immensely valuable. Your attorney can subpoena to get video footage from traffic or security cameras, for instance, before that footage is erased or recorded over.
An Attorney Can Prevent You from Getting Tricked by Insurance Companies
While we don’t want to alarm you, there is every reason to be worried about your legal rights after an accident. Most of the time, the person at fault, such as a vehicle or property owner, will be covered by insurance. They will report the accident to their insurance company, and that company will get their legal team working right away. Their goal is to do everything in their power to prevent you from recovering much, if anything, for your losses.
And they are very good at their jobs because that’s what they focus on all day, every day. They will try to shift liability onto you if possible. At the very least, they will work to minimize any amount that you do recover. You need to understand the pitfalls and how to avoid them. For instance, an attorney can help you avoid saying something that could be twisted and used as an admission of liability. Or if you’ve hired an attorney to represent you, your lawyer can handle all the communications with the insurance company so that you don’t have to worry about it or be pestered by their questions.
Your Attorney Can Answer Questions on Your Behalf
Insurance company representatives and attorneys may start pestering you right away, asking questions and demanding that you make a statement. They are hoping they can twist your words against you, so trying to talk to them can be a nerve-wracking experience unless you know precisely how to answer. When you start working with a personal injury attorney, your attorney can serve as your legal representative not only in court but also when you are getting questions from insurance companies and other attorneys. Allowing your attorney to handle all the communications on your behalf frees you up to focus on your physical, mental, and emotional recovery without being harassed or worrying about saying the wrong thing.
Your Attorney Can Assess Settlement Offers
In many cases, particularly when injuries are severe, insurance companies may offer a settlement amount very early on and pressure you to accept it before it is withdrawn. The reason they do this is to try to close the case quickly and cheaply. The amount they offer is usually far less than they claim is actually worth, but by pressuring you to accept it quickly, they hope you will sign away your legal rights before you learn the truth.
When you are working with an attorney, your attorney can evaluate any settlement offers you receive and see how they compare what your claim should be worth based on legal precedent and projected future needs. If the offer is good, your attorney can let you know. If it is too low, your attorney can let you know that too. Very often, as an attorney gathers more evidence through the legal discovery process and independent investigation, the insurance company realizes that they will have to treat the victim fairly, and they begin increasing their settlement offers.
Find Out How the Team at Michael M. Day Law Office, LLC Can Help You Recover
These are just a few of the reasons it is better to start working with our team as soon as possible after an injury. We can also help you find the medical and other resources you need to reach your maximum physical recovery because it’s about much more than money. After an accident that could have been prevented if someone had only acted properly, we urge you to contact our team to see if we may be able to help. To get started, call us at (678) 403-6479 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation and consultation.