Why is it important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident? Because if you don’t, you may end up with little or no compensation for your injuries. As an accident victim, you may be scared and confused about how to handle the many difficulties you’re facing because of the accident. That’s why it is crucial to take immediate action to find a trusted attorney following a crash.
Evidence can disappear over time, and any delay in finding a skilled lawyer may put you at risk of missing important legal deadlines. Going without legal representation can also leave you vulnerable to insurance company tactics to deny or reduce the compensation you deserve.
Risks of Waiting Too Long To Call a Lawyer
The best thing you can do after experiencing a car crash is contact a lawyer to handle your case while you focus on recovery. If you were involved in a crash, contact us today. Delaying can make it harder to get the damages and compensation you deserve.
Lost Evidence Can Sink Your Case
Our experienced car accident attorneys have more than two decades of combined personal injury experience. We will handle your case and ensure you know the key steps to take after a car accident. Failure to act quickly can impact your attorney’s ability to gather evidence on your behalf. Waiting can mean losing vital evidence, including:
- Surveillance footage, which can be overwritten within days, sometimes intentionally.
- Witness statements because memories can fade or become unreliable.
- Physical evidence, such as skid marks and debris, can be erased by weather, traffic, or cleanup crews.
- Black box data, which stores speed and braking data and can show whether the other driver ran a red light, can be lost over time.
Missed Deadlines Mean Lost Rights
Each state has a statute of limitations, which is the deadline to file a legal claim. If you don’t file on time, you could lose your chance to pursue compensation. Sometimes, your deadline to file can be very short, such as in crashes involving government vehicles.
Insurers Gain the Upper Hand
Delaying your legal case can allow insurers to build defenses that discredit your claim. Insurance companies often blame victims for their own injuries or claim they had pre-existing conditions. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to build your case. When insurers know you are approaching the deadline to file a claim, they don’t care to negotiate fairly and often opt to delay instead.
Delayed Medical Documentation Weakens Claims
Gaps in treatment give insurers a reason to try and deny your claims. If you put off treatment or miss your medical appointments, insurers may argue that your injuries weren’t accident-related or weren’t as severe as you claim. Insurance representatives may also claim that a long recovery shows you had a pre-existing condition rather than a severe injury related to your accident.
How Insurance Companies Exploit Delays
Insurance companies use common tactics to reduce payouts and protect their bottom line. Insurance adjusters may delay your claim in hopes that you will accept a low offer. They may also try to convince you that you don’t have a claim or that your fault in the accident means they owe you minimal compensation.
Lowball Settlement Offers
To protect yourself against a bad deal, you wouldn’t buy a used car without checking its history. Don’t accept a quick insurance settlement before you know the full extent of your damages. Part of accepting a settlement is signing a release. You can’t go back and ask for more compensation if your injuries are worse than you realized or your future earning capacity is limited.
Even when the other party only carries minimum car insurance coverage, you need a skilled attorney to fight for every penny. Saving a few thousand dollars on every claim could make millions for an insurance company. Meanwhile, individual victims who fail to recover a few thousand dollars due to a lackluster settlement may have to choose between rent and their health.
Recorded Statement Traps
Do not provide recorded statements to insurance companies without having a lawyer on your side. Experienced car accident lawyers know insurance company tricks and can help you avoid answering questions that may negatively affect your claim.
For example, an insurance adjuster may ask how you are doing. While the question may seem harmless and even polite, insurers may use your statement against you, claim your injuries aren’t serious, and deny your claim.
Social Media Surveillance
Don’t mention your accident or post pictures of it on social media. Insurance companies may search your posts for excuses to deny or reduce your claims. Even posts unrelated to your accident, such as pictures of you hiking or playing with your children, could be used to downplay your injuries.
Disputing Injury Severity Over Time
Insurers sometimes claim that prolonged recovery is evidence of a pre-existing condition or make other allegations to justify a lower settlement. For example, they may unfairly claim that your injury doesn’t have long-term consequences or that rehabilitation won’t be necessary.
Legal Deadlines You Can't Afford to Miss
During insurance and legal claims, several deadlines affect your eligibility to collect compensation. This is just one of the many reasons to contact an injury lawyer who knows the law in your state.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the legal time limit to file a lawsuit. It is usually two to three years, but some states have shorter timelines. It is critical to know the applicable rules in your state to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to sue. For example, accident victims usually have three years to file a lawsuit in New York, but you only have two years in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Insurance Claim Windows
Insurers demand prompt reporting of car accidents. Most require notice within 24 to 72 hours. Carefully review your policy for accident notification and claims submission deadlines, as delays put you at risk of denials. A skilled attorney can help you put together a well-prepared initial claim to set the stage for an adequate offer from the insurer.
Short claim windows are another reason to contact a lawyer after a car accident. An attorney can help ensure your claim is filed correctly and supported by strong evidence, increasing your chances of a fair settlement.
Statute of Limitations for Government Entities
Acting quickly is crucial when a car accident involves a government entity due to strict filing deadlines. Short timelines mean less time to investigate claims, such as accidents with city buses or on poorly maintained roads.
For example, in New York, you must file a notice of claim against a government entity within 90 days of the accident. If you plan to sue, you only have one year and 90 days after the accident to file a formal lawsuit. Missing these deadlines could cost you the chance to seek compensation, so it’s important to consult a lawyer as soon as possible.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claim Deadlines
Acting quickly to meet insurance claim deadlines can help ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to. Some states require that you file an uninsured motorist (UM) claim within as little as 30 days of a crash. UM coverage protects you when the other driver is uninsured or you are the victim of a hit and run. Another type of insurance worth having is underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which protects you when the other driver’s policy limits don’t fully cover your damages.
How Lawyers Maximize Your Compensation
Our attorneys have significant experience in car accident claims. They know which steps to take to strengthen cases and fight attempts to minimize compensation. They also know how to gather the necessary evidence and will take on insurance companies on your behalf.
Proving Fault With Evidence
Identifying who to sue after a car accident is critical to getting fair compensation for your damages in an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Some cases are straightforward, while others, such as car accidents on bridges, may involve multiple parties.
As your attorney, we’ll leave no stone unturned. We’ll gather and analyze evidence such as police reports, accident reconstructions, and cell phone records that may show the other driver was texting during the crash. All of this can be used to show how liable the other driver was for your injuries and increase the value of your claim.
Calculating Long-Term Damages
Future medical bills, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering are just some of the key factors a skilled attorney may consider in calculating your damages and the amount of compensation you should seek. Damages are meant to compensate you for financial losses caused by the accident. Without full compensation, you and your family could be left to cover that financial burden out of pocket.
To estimate the compensation you need, you might look to outside aids, but it’s best not to rely on inaccurate car accident settlement calculators because they often overlook important aspects of your case. It’s also important to know that insurance companies are often only focused on protecting their profits. They may try to settle for an amount that doesn’t fully address your future financial needs.
We're Not Afraid to Counter Insurance Companies With Litigation
Our results-oriented attorneys will fight on your behalf by rejecting lowball offers and countering unfair allegations that you were responsible for your injuries.
Some law firms are afraid of trial and may press you to take the first offer from the insurance company. At Richmond Vona, we aren’t afraid to continue tough negotiations, even if that means going to trial to fight for what you deserve.
Don't Wait—Contact Richmond Vona Today for Your Car Accident Case
Waiting to contact a lawyer after a car accident can significantly impact your compensation. Your attorney needs time to thoroughly investigate your crash and gather evidence, prove liability on the part of the other party, and fight unfair claims that you were responsible for your injuries.
At Richmond Vona, we focus on helping accident victims get the best results, including full compensation. Our team of distinguished attorneys believes in the power of justice and the relentless pursuit of our clients’ rights, which has resulted in $175 million in settlements and verdicts for our deserving clients.
Don’t let delays cost you. Contact Richmond Vona today for a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the compensation you deserve. Call 716-500-5678 or use our online contact form.
