Immediately after a car accident, most people don’t want to think about filing a claim. They may have medical appointments, taking time to recover, and a lot more on their mind. However, waiting too long to file a claim could be problematic for the car accident victim. There is a lot that can go wrong if someone waits too long to file their claim, and it could mean they receive reduced compensation or are unable to gain compensation from the accident. In situations like these, consulting a car accident lawyer can help victims understand the legal process and ensure they meet necessary deadlines to protect their rights.
Seek Legal Assistance Quickly
It’s a good idea for any victim of a car accident to seek legal assistance quickly. They don’t have to wait until they are fully recovered, until they have all of the medical bills, or for anything else. Instead, after a car accident, they can speak to a lawyer. While the victim is recovering, the lawyer will be working hard on their case. This allows the victim to work on their own recovery while they have help with the legal claim for compensation for their injuries.
There is a Limit for When Someone Can File a Claim
There is a time limit imposed on victims of car accidents. This falls under the statute of limitations and can vary in different jurisdictions. In most cases, those involved in a car accident have two years to file a claim. Waiting too long, however, could mean the victim finds out they did not have two years to file or they keep putting it off and find out the two years have passed. If either of these happens, the injured party can no longer file a claim.
Waiting Could Mean Destroyed Evidence
Evidence can be actively or inadvertently destroyed before a claim is filed. If there is footage of a car accident on a store security camera, but no one lets the store owner know the footage needs to be saved, the store owner could write over it to record more data. This is done inadvertently, but it does erase evidence of how the car accident occurs. If someone actively destroys evidence for the case, it could be considered spoliation, and there could be sanctions or punishments as a result.
Filing Now Doesn’t Mean Less Compensation
Many people may wait because they fear they’ll lose out on potential compensation by filing a case too soon. This isn’t true. The lawyer working on the case understands that medical bills may continue to come in, especially for permanent injuries. They can make sure all information on financial damages is collected in time to file and make sure the claim includes the potential financial compensation that may be needed to handle the injuries. Moreover, legal professionals, such as those at Jim Glaser Law, can ensure prompt filling to preserve the important evidence and witness testimonials, which can be important in strengthening your case. It can also allow your legal team to start negotiations with insurance companies as soon as possible, thus accelerating the settlement process.
Insurance Companies are Suspicious When it Takes a Long Time to File
One other reason to go ahead and file quickly is that insurance companies may be more suspicious if someone waits too long to file. Waiting a week or two usually doesn’t make a difference, but waiting a year or longer could mean the insurance company won’t want to pay any compensation because they are worried that the claim is fraudulent.
If you’ve been in a car accident, there’s no need to wait to file a claim or speak with a lawyer about the case. In fact, it’s far more beneficial to speak with someone today and let them get started working on the case.
