If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you are probably well aware of the many challenges of recovery. Victims are struggling with medical bills, bureaucracy, and other responsibilities they must meet in the aftermath of an accident.
While you might feel overwhelmed, bear in mind that you are not alone. An attorney can handle the legal proceedings on your behalf. Having a lawyer on your side immediately after the accident allows you to focus on your recovery.
Meet the Statute of Limitations
It is crucial to call your personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. An early start can prove invaluable for building a strong case.
Some clients wait a long time before contacting an attorney because they assume they are facing a simple insurance issue; others are genuinely traumatized and need some time for recovery. However, this can be a grave mistake.
In New York City, claimants are given up to three years to take legal action against the defendant. However, depending on the specific circumstances of your accident, you may have less or more time to file. Ask your lawyer if you qualify for any exceptions to the standard statute of limitations.
If you do not meet the deadline, your case will be dismissed, and you miss the chance to recover damages. It is critical to engage your lawyer fast to resolve all technicalities on time.
Calling the attorney late could lead to unfavorable consequences. You might get lower compensation as the case will not be strong enough or face challenges gathering the required evidence.
Restore Evidence
A case will always need strong evidence to win. A New York personal injury lawyer can help gather all the necessary evidence to build a solid case. Furthermore, waiting for a long time could lead to the loss or destruction of evidence.
While eyewitness testimony can be valuable to a case, this is not always reliable. The more time passes since the accident the less reliable the testimony will be considered. After all, memory is fallible, and as time passes, memories fade away.
Therefore, you need to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible, allowing them ample time to gather proof. An attorney will also know how to best utilize witnesses to strengthen your case.
Prepare the Case
A solid case requires ample time for preparation. It could take considerable time to gather all the evidence and lay out the best strategy.
Therefore, it is best to look for a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. This will allow them enough time to build a strong case for you and increase your chances of getting better compensation from the courts.
Focus on Your Recovery
Dealing with a case when you have injuries to focus on will be daunting. Hiring a personal injury lawyer early on will relieve you of the burden of having to follow up on the case. You can focus on your physical recovery, knowing your case is handled by an expert.
Determine Liability
When you have doubts about who is responsible for the injury, reach out to your personal injury attorney. A legal expert will carefully collect and review the available evidence and determine who is at fault. Depending on your case, one or more parties can be liable for the accident.
Common Types of Personal Injuries
There are different kinds of personal injuries for which you can recover. After you identify the category under which your case falls, look for an attorney who specializes in similar cases.
- Slip and fall accidents
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Bike accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Dog bites
- Medical mishaps and negligence
- Hit or struck by an object
- Defective product
Final Thoughts
Having a skilled lawyer on your side increases your chances of winning your case. Talk to a personal injury lawyer to get expert guidance and get the compensation you need. For the best outcome, contact a legal expert immediately after the accident.
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by ātranslatingā the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.
