Importance of Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know how scary it can be. From the second it happens, you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Do you call the cops? Do you move your car out of the lanes of traffic? Do you go to the hospital? When should you hire an attorney after an accident? We’ll answer all these in this post.
You need to call the police so they can do a thorough investigation of the accident scene. They’ll also prepare a police report. Your Hickory car accident lawyer is going to need to need this report if you have to file suit.
You also have to go to the hospital whether you think you’re hurt or not. You really have no way of knowing if you’re injured. You’re not a doctor and a lot of injuries take hours or days to show up.
If you don’t go to the hospital, your lawyer will have no way of proving your injuries. And, if you wait a few days to get checked out, the defendant will claim that something other than your accident caused your injuries.
As for moving your car out of traffic, this is common sense. If you’re able to do so safely, you’ll want to move your car off to the side of the road. But you may want to wait until the police arrive to do this. You don’t want to interfere with their investigation. You also don’t want to disturb any evidence that they may find.
So, now that we’ve covered what to do after your car accident, let’s talk about one other thing – calling an attorney. Unless your car accident was very minor, you’re going to need to contact an experienced car accident lawyer in North Carolina.
Do You Have to Immediately Hire an Attorney After an Accident?
Some people think they have time to think about whether or not to call a lawyer. And, this is true. There’s nothing that says you have to hire a lawyer right away. In fact, there’s nothing that says you have to call a lawyer – period.
If you choose to, you can handle your legal claim yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, you could hurt your chances of recovery if you don’t hire an attorney after an accident. And you do have some time to make this decision.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a few days (or weeks) to think about whether or not you want to hire an attorney. However, you don’t want to think for too long. Your North Carolina car accident lawyer is going to need time to prepare your case. You also want them by your side to make sure your claim is handled properly.
What if You Wait Too Long to File Your Claim?
There’s always the chance that you wait too long to call an attorney. You only have a few days to file your insurance claim. If you wait too long, they will deny your claim. You also only have three (3) years to file your car accident lawsuit in North Carolina. This is based on the North Carolina statute of limitations.
If you don’t hire your lawyer early enough, you risk missing either or both of these deadlines. If this happens, you won’t recover any money. If you expect your North Carolina car accident lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve, you need to give them a fair chance.
Your lawyer is going to need as much time as possible to prepare your case. Some of the things they’ll need to do include:
- Gather evidence
- Investigate the accident to see who was at fault
- Find expert witnesses
- Talk to medical providers to determine if you’ll need future medical care
- Calculate your damages
- Look for all potential defendants
These things take time. If you call a car accident lawyer in Hickory a month or two before the statute of limitations is up, you’re essentially handcuffing them. Don’t make their job any harder than it already is.
Contact a Skilled Hickory Car Accident Lawyer
If you are injured in a car accident, you’re going to need to call an experienced car accident lawyer in Hickory. Your lawyer can review your case and answer any questions you may have. They can also give you an idea of what your case may be worth.
Contact Harman Law online today or call us at (704) 286-0947 and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
