Almost every attorney will recommend that you get legal help immediately after an accident that was not your fault and involves injury – but why is this important? The main reason is that you need to protect your legal rights, and that’s what a good attorney will do for you.
For instance, if you are not at fault for the accident, the person who is at fault will immediately notify his insurance company – and that company will then try to get in touch with you immediately to discuss the accident. DO NOT give a statement to an insurance company in this situation without contacting an attorney first. This is crucial because the insurance company does not have your best interests in mind and will try to get you to accept a low settlement. It’s part of your attorney’s job to deal with the insurance company, protect your rights and make sure you get all of the compensation you deserve.
Another reason to contact an attorney immediately after an accident is that all of the details of what happened will still be fresh in your mind. If you put this off for days, weeks or even months, you may end up forgetting some of the important details that can help to win your case.
As a basic rule of thumb, the smart thing to do is to contact an attorney after a vehicle accident – even if you are not sure if you have a case. Most personal injury attorneys will give you a free consultation (and it’s always better to be safe than sorry).
