After an accident, you can get an attorney at any point in the aftermath of the incident, but it’s in your interest to seek legal representation as soon as possible. The sooner you call a lawyer, the sooner they can protect important evidence and work to uphold legal deadlines.
From there, a personal injury lawyer from Sweet James can investigate the details of your case, speak with insurance companies on your behalf, review the full extent of your losses, and determine if you can pursue a personal injury claim.
Is It Ever Too Late to Get an Attorney After an Accident?
Usually, there is no rule requiring you to get an attorney immediately after an accident. You can contact a lawyer days, weeks, or even months after an accident. The more important question is whether the legal deadline for bringing your particular claim has expired.
None of these situations automatically means you cannot speak with an attorney:
- You might have waited several months thinking your injuries were minor.
- Perhaps you were busy dealing with surgery and rehabilitation.
- Maybe you tried to handle the insurance claim yourself at first.
- You might have accepted an initial payment without realizing the extent of your losses.
In fact, calling a lawyer after you realize you need help is generally better than continuing to wait because you are worried that it is already too late. Sweet James can look at the date of the accident, the type of claim involved, the parties responsible, and other circumstances to determine which deadlines may apply.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
How long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit depends on the statute of limitations in your state. For personal injury claims in California, for instance, the general statute of limitations is two years.
California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 usually grants two years for an action involving an injury to, or death of, an individual caused by another person’s wrongful act.
Other states allow anywhere from one to six years, with shorter and longer deadlines applying in specific circumstances. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait the maximum allowed period before contacting an attorney.
Here’s what your attorney needs time to do on your behalf:
- Investigate the accident
- Identify witnesses
- Obtain medical records
- Review insurance policies
- Collect photographs or video
- Consult with professionals
- Negotiate with insurers
- Prepare legal documents
Waiting until the last possible moment to call Sweet James can make that process much more difficult. There can also be exceptions that change the deadline.
The specific facts of your accident matter, which is why an attorney should review your situation rather than assuming the standard two-year rule applies.
How Long Do You Have After a Wrongful Death?
Wrongful death cases have their own legal considerations. For example, in California, California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 generally provides a two-year limitations period for an action involving the death of an individual caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect.
A wrongful death claim can also involve questions about who is legally entitled to bring the action, what damages are available, and whether there is a separate survival action involving claims belonging to the deceased person.
You shouldn’t assume that waiting to contact Sweet James is harmless, especially if you lost a loved one due to any of these situations:
- A car crash
- A defective product
- Dangerous property
- Medical negligence
- Another incident
Wrongful death cases can require extensive investigation, particularly when liability is disputed. Important evidence includes accident reports, medical records, employment information, photographs, witness accounts, video, and other documentation.
What if the Insurance Company Already Offered You a Settlement?
You can still contact an attorney at Sweet James after receiving a settlement offer. In fact, this can be an important time to get legal advice. An initial settlement offer is likely based on the information that the insurance company has at that point in time.
Now, if you are still receiving treatment or have not yet determined the full extent of your losses, you may not have enough information to decide whether the offer is adequate. Do not assume that accepting a settlement is simply another step in negotiations.
Depending on the agreement, you may be required to sign a release giving up additional claims arising from the accident. If you have already accepted and signed a final agreement, your options might be more limited, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing an attorney can do.
Does Hiring an Attorney Later Hurt Your Case?
Hiring an attorney later does not automatically hurt your case. What matters is whether you still have a viable claim and whether the applicable deadlines have been met. That said, delay can create practical problems.
The sooner an attorney becomes involved, the sooner the legal team can begin protecting evidence and investigating the circumstances. If you are worried that you waited too long, tell Sweet James exactly when the accident happened and what you have done since then.
Do not leave out details because you think they make your situation look worse. An attorney needs the full timeline to give you useful advice.
Contact Sweet James Today to Get an Attorney After an Accident
If you were hurt in an accident, you can get an attorney at any point in the aftermath of the incident. However, the sooner you call Sweet James, the more time your lawyer will have to work on your case.
Our law firm’s founding attorney previously represented insurance carriers in both personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. With this experience on our side, we’re able to add valuable insight, especially in terms of how insurers evaluate claims and investigate accidents.
You can rely on our Experienced Trial Team Ready To Fight For You. As part of our Personalized Service Focused on You, we’re prepared to advocate for your interests. Call us today for legal representation from Real Lawyers. Real Results.
