When you’re involved in a serious collision, you’ll have plenty of things on your mind other than talking to an attorney. Your priority will be to get medical attention for yourself and others who have been hurt. Depending on the severity of the collision, you might spend days, weeks or months in the hospital for your own injuries or injuries that others in your family suffered.
It is easy to lose track of time when you’re in recovery or are taking care of someone who has been injured, but it is of the utmost importance that you do get to know your legal options and speak to your attorney about what you’d like to do next. As a victim of a serious collision, you may have an opportunity to seek compensation from the at-fault driver, which will help you cover financial losses like medical bills and lost wages.
How soon do you need to talk to an attorney?
While there is no specific time when you need to speak with an attorney, it’s usually a good idea to do so within the first few days after the crash and before you speak to the other party’s insurance company. This helps you avoid missing the statute of limitations. If the other party’s insurance agent contacts you, it’s within your rights to say that you’d like to talk to them in the future but ask that they speak with your attorney instead.
It’s not in your best interests to talk to the other party or their insurance agents until you have the time to go over your legal situation. You need to talk to your attorney about the injuries you have, any losses you’ve already suffered and the financial damage that this collision has caused.
If you receive a settlement offer, it’s not in your best interests to accept it right away. You don’t have to accept the first offer, and oftentimes, it is better not to. Take your time handling the claim, so that you know exactly what you need to be made financially whole again. The right approach could help you get more out of a personal injury claim, so you can relax while recovering.