Steps to Take to Determine When to Seek Legal Counsel After an Accident
3 min read
After an accident, you might wonder how long you should wait before seeking legal representation. Although the answer to this question will depend much on your situation’s specifics, there are some fundamental steps you can take to ascertain whether you have a claim.
Make a List of All the People Involved
In the context of car accidents, one of the first things you need to do is get a car accident attorney. You can do that via a simple phone call and are on your way to a speedy recovery. It would help if you also took the time to list all the people involved in the accident. This is one of the most important actions you can take because it will enable you to identify the culprit behind your injury. Aside from your lawyer, it is an excellent idea to let your insurance company know who you are and to keep your medical records in a secure location.
Determine The Extent of Your Injuries
After a car accident, you might need to be fully aware of the extent of your injuries. You must compile all necessary data and hire a lawyer to assist you. You have a high chance of receiving a reasonable settlement offer the more you can do.
Once you’ve decided to file a claim, you’ll have a specific amount of time to do so. Your injury type will determine how much you receive. If you have a permanent injury, it may take a long time for your damages to be calculated.
The damages you’ll receive can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Your car accident attorney will be able to advise you on how to get the maximum amount of compensation.
It’s essential to be truthful with your attorney. They need to know how much time you’ve been in pain and how long you’ve had to miss work. They also need to know your future costs. If you need surgery, your attorney can help you calculate how much it will cost.
Call the police. You should also call your insurance company and report any injuries. It would help if you never admitted fault when speaking with the police. This could jeopardize your case.
Determine If You Need to File a Lawsuit
After a car accident, you may have questions about filing a lawsuit. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, you can either sue an at-fault driver or your own insurance company. Regardless of your chosen route, you’ll want to gather evidence and consult an attorney.
You’ll also need to gather information from the other driver, such as the driver’s name, address, phone number, license plate number, and the insurance company. If the other driver refuses to provide this information, you should contact the police.
After an accident, you will likely be injured. This can significantly impact your life, including your health and career. You will need to seek medical care, and you can pursue compensation from the at-fault driver or your insurance company.
Depending on the accident, you can receive compensation for property damage, economic damages, and non-economic damages. These include pain and suffering and intangible losses, such as loss of enjoyment of life. The cost of litigation can be high, so you might recover less than you’d like.
Before you file a lawsuit, you will need to determine how much your damages are. You can use a few simple rules of thumb to help you figure out how much your claim might be worth.
