Why You Should Hire an Attorney Soon After a Car Accident

Getting involved in a car accident can be confusing and challenging for you. From conflicting points of view to expensive recovery bills, car accident claims can get quickly complicated and could hurt your settlement claim. After the crash, insurance companies can try different strategies to minimize or discount your car accident claim.

The at-fault driver needs to compensate you accordingly for the injuries and losses caused by the car accident. If you think the other driver caused the accident, you should speak with an experienced attorney like Charbonnet Law Firm as soon as possible.

If you’re unsure whether hiring an attorney is the right decision, here’s why you should contact a knowledgeable and experienced accident lawyer soon after a car accident:

1.    Evidence can disappear

The best way to prove fault after a car accident is by gathering as much evidence as possible at the accident scene. Contacting your attorney soon after a crash can ensure all the necessary evidence is gathered right away to help build your case.

Taking too long or failing to contact an attorney after a car accident increases the chance of key evidence getting lost. This includes the disappearance of evidence such as tire marks and vehicle parts left at the accident scene. The at-fault driver may also intentionally take such evidence from the scene to make it challenging for you to prove fault. Paperwork could also go missing, accident photos damaged, and your injuries not adequately documented. Recovering this crucial evidence can be nearly impossible, which limits your compensation.

2.    Witnesses’ memories can fade

Eyewitness statements are often crucial in proving the at-fault driver liable for your injuries and damages. However, if not recorded immediately after the car accident, witnesses may forget important details like how they saw the accident happen. When your witnesses can’t remember the crucial evidence, you need to back up your side of the story. That’s why you should hire an attorney immediately after a car accident to ensure all witness statements are documented as soon as possible.

3.    Documentation of your losses

The primary goal of filing a car accident claim is to ensure you get compensated for all your losses and damages caused by the car accident. It’s crucial that you properly document all your expenses and losses resulting from the car accident right from the beginning. An experienced lawyer can help document all your losses, even those often unnoticed, such as transportation costs to doctor’s appointments, recent repairs or upgrades, lost earnings, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering. This way, you obtain the highest amount possible for your losses and damages.

4.    You Need an Advocate to Negotiate With the Insurance Company

After a car accident, most insurance companies reach out to accident victims and pressure them into a quick settlement based upon formulas and data. There are different ways the at-fault driver’s insurance company may try to discount your personal injury settlement claim. For instance, they may try to use your words to argue against your claim or offer a low settlement hoping that you’ll take it and not sue them. Hiring a lawyer right away ensures you have a legal professional to conduct all the negotiations with the insurance companies. This prevents you from saying the wrong things to the insurance company that might hurt your case or accepting a lower settlement offer than you deserve.

5.    Statute of Limitations

Louisiana’s statute of limitations requires accident victims to file a complaint within the first year from the auto accident date. As one of the shortest limits countrywide, the one-year period can pass quickly, especially while you’re recovering from your injuries or waiting for investigation reports. The worst thing is that when the statute of limitations expires you can end up missing the opportunity to secure the compensation you deserve. Hiring an experienced attorney as soon as possible can ensure you build a strong case before the one year limit expires.

Endnote

There are many compelling reasons why you should contact an accident lawyer from a reputable law firm after you’re involved in a crash. You need legal representation in a car crash. Having a car accident attorney can help build your case and provide professional car accident lawsuit representation to ensure the success of your case.