A car accident can be a harrowing experience. Aside from mental and physical injuries, you could also be left dealing with unpaid medical bills, lost wages, and insurance companies barking down your door. You’ll soon begin to ask, “Should I hire a lawyer?” or “How soon should I hire a lawyer after my car accident? Here are some things you’ll want to know about whether it’s too late to hire a lawyer after your car accident case.
Avoid Missing the Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the deadline before which you need to take formal legal action; otherwise, you could be prevented from doing so forever. It’s a fixed period of time after your car accident within which you must commence a lawsuit. Hiring a lawyer right after the accident will ensure you know exactly when the statute of limitations date is for your case.
A word of caution: the statute of limitations can vary depending on the specific facts of your case. For example, in an accident with another driver in Rochester, New York, you’d typically have three years from the date of the accident within which to file a lawsuit. But if that driver was working for the City of Rochester or the County of Monroe at the time of the accident, that window shrinks down to just 1 year and 90 days. You’d also have other requirements to comply with, such as filing a Notice of Claim within 90 days after the accident.
In some cases, the statute of limitations can be tolled, such as when the injured person is a minor. However, that doesn’t mean the statute of limitation doesn’t start to run until a later date. You’ll want to know for certain when the statute of limitations is, and only a lawyer will be able to tell you for certain.
Get Your Car Accident Case on Track Early
Many people think they don’t need a lawyer after a car accident. They think they can handle their case on their own, that their car accident was minor, or that their injuries aren’t bad enough to justify a lawyer. The truth is, that hiring a lawyer in the first few days or weeks after your car accident can mean the difference between success and failure.
Your lawyer will give you sound legal guidance from the start. They’ll be able to tell you what laws impact your case and the legal hurdles you’ll need to overcome. Their analysis will determine what evidence you must preserve, and only a lawyer will know how to go about doing so. A lawyer will also be able to give you an estimate of what your case is worth to make sure the insurance company isn’t trying to pay you pennies on the dollar.
Your lawyer will speak to the insurance companies on your behalf. Remember, insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible to resolve your case. They have no incentive to reveal what your car accident case is worth. They won’t alert you to deadlines you’re about to miss. Hiring a lawyer early will help you navigate those hurdles before the insurance companies can inflict damage to your case.
Is It Ever Too Late to Hire a Rochester Car Accident Lawyer?
The good news is it’s almost never too late to hire a lawyer after a car accident. However, the longer you wait, the more difficult it’ll be for your lawyer to get you the compensation you’re entitled to. Some actions you take on your own in the beginning could damage your case to the point a lawyer will not be able to fix it for you later.
Failing to meet deadlines can prevent you from ever being able to pursue your case. If you’re incorrect about your statute of limitations date, you’ll likely be unable to take any action at all. Evidence could be lost because you didn’t take the right steps to preserve it. For example, your lawyer could interview the officer from the Rochester Police Department or Monroe County Sheriff’s Office who responded to your accident when the accident is still fresh in their memory. Months later, they may not remember important facts crucial to your case.
Some people think they’re saving money handling their cases by themselves. The truth is, even after paying for a lawyer, those who hire a lawyer often receive far more on their case than those handling matters themselves. Dealing with the insurance companies, gathering critical evidence for your case, and knowing the relevant laws can have a dramatic increase on the value of your car accident case.
The Rochester Car Accident Lawyers at Horn Wright Will Help
You don’t want to hire just any lawyer for your car accident case. You need a lawyer and a firm that has the firepower to take on the big insurance companies. Your lawyer should have extensive experience handling car accident cases, specifically in Rochester and throughout western New York. Hiring a lawyer from out of town, or one that doesn’t focus on car accidents, can result in a poor result on your case.
At Horn Wright, our lawyers know Rochester car accidents. Our office is located in downtown Rochester, less than a one-minute walk to the Monroe County Supreme Court, where your potential lawsuit will be heard. Knowing the legal landscape and having a home-field advantage will make a big difference in your case.
Call (585) 245-0255 today to schedule a free consultation with one of Horn Wright’s Rochester car accident lawyers.