When Should I Contact A Lawyer?

Accident Lawyer

When looking for legal advice or how to proceed once an accident has occurred, many people look to the internet. While the internet is a fantastic resource, it is also filled with half-truths and misconceptions about the law. One of the biggest misunderstandings is when the appropriate time to contact a lawyer is, and that if you do not contact an attorney at a specific time, it could be detrimental to your case. While there is a timeline, there is a bit of leeway with when and how you should contact counsel in order to receive the compensation you deserve.

The “Right Time”

While there is no specific “right time” for you to contact a lawyer about a personal injury case, the sooner you find representation, the faster and easier your case will be resolved. Depending on the type of case you have, you should tailor your search for attorneys to those who specifically handle those types of cases. While an attorney may be fantastic, if they do not have experience in the exact case type that you have, they may not be able to represent you to their fullest capacity, as that is not their specialty. Not only will you want to confirm that they practice and have experience within the type of case you are wanting to file, but that they are also accessible and licensed to practice law within your state. To ensure you will receive proper representation, you may want to ask for referrals from friends or family, google search, or look at directories to find attorneys within your area Additionally, a good steppingstone is to actively review their website to read their biographies as well as any online reviews you may find about them and checking the state bar association.

According to the general timeline of a civil litigation case, one of the best decisions you could make for your case is contacting a lawyer as soon as the incident occurs. This ensures that your attorney can be by your side from the very beginning, to the very end, witnessing all of the small details and assisting you along the way. Additionally, something to take into consideration when deciding the appropriate time to hire legal representation is the statute of limitations, which is the period of time you have to file a case on an injury. The faster you contact and hire an attorney, the less you will have to worry about the statute of limitations, overall making the litigation process much more hassle-free. By having your attorney by your side throughout the whole process, they can assist you with insurance companies, dealing with finding and continuing treatment with medical providers, and get you compensation for your injuries faster than if you were to handle the case on your own, or “Pro se”.

If you’ve been injured due to the actions of another, whether intentionally or simply due to negligence, a personal injury attorney can advise you of your rights, and help you obtain the compensation you deserve. 

Thanks to Eglet Adams for their insight on when to contact an accident lawyer.