Being involved in an accident can be a traumatic experience, especially if you’ve suffered serious injuries. Many people are so focused on making sure they’re healthy and spending their time dealing with the emotional aspect of the accident that they don’t even consider talking to a lawyer. This is often a mistake. In some circumstances, you could be entitled to a significant amount of compensation, especially if your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. So how do you know if and when you should hire a personal injury attorney?
Severe Injuries
If you’re in an accident where you or a loved one suffers severe injuries, such as broken bones, spinal cord injuries in Gulfport, or physical or emotional trauma that’s going to change the course of your life, you should contact a personal injury attorney right away. If someone else was responsible for the accident, there’s no reason that you should be left footing the bill for your medical expenses and lost wages. A lawyer can help you determine who was at fault and whether you have a viable legal claim to pursue. They can also help you determine how much compensation you are entitled to.
Insurance Company Offers You Money
Anytime an insurance company offers you money after an accident, it’s wise to speak with a lawyer before accepting it. The general goal of all insurance companies is to make money by limiting the size of their settlements. If they’re offering you a quick deal, it’s likely, or at least possible, that you’re actually entitled to much more. These companies often make very quick, low settlement offers in order to make the case go away, thus avoiding a lawsuit in the future. Once you accept an offer from an insurance company, that essentially closes the case, and you aren’t allowed to take further legal action and seek additional compensation.
The Case Is Complicated
If the situation that caused your injuries is complicated, it’s always in your best interest to consult with an expert. For instance, if your claim involves a defective product, this can be more difficult than dealing with a car accident case (though they can have their complexities as well). If you’re not well-versed in this area of the law, determining how much compensation you’re entitled to, and even figuring out how to file a claim and what evidence you need, can be quite difficult to understand.
Don’t Wait
It’s always a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as you feel healthy and able to do so. There are deadlines you have to abide by when filing a civil suit, so it’s important to file your claim on time. If you don’t, you won’t be able to collect any compensation, even if you would have been entitled to it. These deadlines seem to last a long time, but the days pass very quickly.
The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for your attorney to find witnesses to the incident, video footage from nearby stores or houses, and other evidence that might be time-sensitive. You need to hire an experienced Gulfport personal injury attorney in order to prepare your claim properly and wade through all of the important evidence so you receive the maximum settlement in the quickest amount of time.