3 Reasons You Should Not Wait To Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer After A Car Accident

Oftentimes, the first call people make after being in a car accident is to the insurance company to file a claim. While there is nothing wrong with promptly reporting an accident, it can be a bad idea to try and negotiate with the insurance company directly before talking to a personal injury lawyer about your claim. Keep reading to learn more about the three reasons you will want to reach out to a lawyer first before attempting to settle your case.

#1: Your Statements Can Be Used Against You

While the insurance company will try to make you feel as though they are on your side in trying to settle your claim, it is important to remember that the insurance company is in business to make money. The only way for them to accomplish their mission is to successfully avoid paying claims or to settle these claims for less than they are worth whenever possible. Consequently, it should not surprise you to learn that the insurance company can and will use any statements you make to try and limit their liability if possible. The longer you choose to communicate directly with the insurance company instead of communicating through a personal injury lawyer, the greater the chance is that you will make a statement that could hurt your case. 

#2: An Attorney Can Properly Evaluate The Value Of Your Claim

One of the reasons that insurance companies are so successful at getting people to accept less than their claims are worth is that many people simply do not know exactly how much compensation they are entitled to. This is especially true when discussing punitive damages for things such as pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and experience necessary to properly evaluate the value of your claim. Having this information early in the claims process will help to prevent you from making the mistake of accepting an offer that is far less than what you truly deserve. 

#3: There Is A Statute Of Limitations On Personal Injury Claims

All personal injury claims have a statute of limitations. What this means is that you have a limited amount of time to file a claim with the court if you are unable to settle your claim without the need for judicial intervention. If you wait too long to contact a personal injury lawyer about your claim, there may not be enough time left for this lawyer to properly pursue your case with the court. Furthermore, the faster a lawyer starts handling your case, the more time they will have to try and settle your claim before a lawsuit would need to be filed. 

For more information, contact a personal injury lawyer.