When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case
Unsure when to hire a personal injury lawyer? Identify crucial moments to make the call and protect your rights. Explore our guide for informed decisions!
According to SkillsYouNeed, around 39.5 million people in the United States seek medical care each year due to personal injuries. This amounts to approximately 126.3 personal injury cases for every 1,000 individuals.
Accidents happen in a flash, and delaying your injury claim timing can result in missed deadlines and the loss of your legal rights. To ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, it’s crucial to understand when to hire a personal injury lawyer for your case.
Discover when to seek personal injury legal advice or support–and why acting sooner rather than later can make all the difference.
Why Act Quickly?
Delaying the hiring of a personal injury attorney can result in lost evidence, a weakened claim, and reduced chances of recovery. Here’s why time matters so much:
Protection from Insurance Company Tactics
When you file a personal injury claim, remember that insurers are focused on protecting their own interests–not yours. They may push a lowball settlement or even deny your claim.
Waiting too long gives them the upper hand and increases your chances of being taken advantage of. With a skilled lawyer advising you early on, you’ll avoid common traps set by insurance adjusters.
Preserving Evidence
Crucial evidence in a personal injury case can disappear quickly. Skid marks fade, witnesses forget, and surveillance footage gets erased.
A skilled lawyer will begin investigations immediately to preserve critical evidence that can strengthen your claim, such as:
- Witness testimonies
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Police or incident reports
- Medical records
- Witness contact information
Complying with the Statute of Limitations
Every state has a legal deadline (statute of limitations) for filing a personal injury lawsuit. As a general rule, you have up to two years to bring your personal injury lawsuit to court. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to miss the window to file–potentially losing your right forever.
Avoiding Medical Documentation Delays
Timely medical documentation helps establish a clear link between the accident and your injuries. Delays in seeking care can give insurers or defendants reason to argue your injuries happened elsewhere or aren’t as serious as claimed.
A skilled injury lawyer ensures your injuries are evaluated and recorded correctly. They collaborate with medical providers to gather and organize the records, test results, and expert opinions needed to support your case.
Maximizing Your Compensation
Individuals who hire legal professionals typically secure larger settlements than those who manage their injury claims independently. If you’re in Oklahoma and need a lawyer who can maximize your compensation, contact BDIW Law.
We combine integrity, compassion, and commitment to help secure the settlement you deserve. We employ the following strategies to maximize injury compensation:
- Negotiating with insurers
- Calculating damages
- Documenting damages
- Preserving evidence
- Filing a lawsuit
- Managing legal procedures
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYSigns to Hire a Lawyer for Your Personal Injury Case
Not every accident requires a personal injury lawyer. However, if you’re seeing any of these signs, don’t wait; it’s time to get professional legal help.
You Are Unsure About Your Claim’s Value
Unfortunately, many personal injury victims don’t know how to calculate their damages. Some victims also assume insurers will offer a fair settlement. They don’t realize that insurance companies aim to minimize payouts to protect their profits.
Undervaluing your claim can make you accept a lowball settlement offer. This will leave you without funds for rehabilitation, therapy, or lost income recovery.
A skilled personal injury lawyer knows how to accurately value your claim. They’ll build a personal injury case that accurately represents the full extent of your losses.
You’ve Sustained Serous Injuries
Serious injuries often lead to higher medical bills and long-term health consequences. These factors can increase your chances of receiving higher compensation, but only if you seek proper legal help from a personal injury attorney.
You can get legal aid for injuries like:
- Internal injuries like organ damage or internal bleeding
- Broken jaw
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injury
- Open or closed bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations
Multiple Parties Are Involved
Personal injury cases involving multiple parties easily get complicated. Common parties involved in these cases include:
- Injured party (plaintiff)
- Drivers
- Property owners
- Product manufacturers
- Government entities
- Medical providers
A skilled personal injury attorney can assess your case and easily determine the at-fault party. They also negotiate with multiple insurance companies to maximize your compensation. If necessary, the attorney will file a lawsuit against all responsible parties and work to ensure that liability is fairly shared.
The Insurance Company Has Rejected or Devalued Your Claim
An insurance company can deny or devalue your claim if you have pre-existing conditions. Other reasons include disputed liability, insufficient documentation, and lack of immediate medical treatment.
A personal injury attorney can spot warning signs that the insurance company is trying to undervalue your claim. These red flags include:
- Twisting your statements unfairly
- Downplaying your injuries
- Offering a quick settlement
- Delayed communication
- Overlooking your emotional suffering
Your attorney will compile and present strong evidence to support your case. They can also show how the accident caused your injuries and how those injuries impact your life.
Skilled attorneys negotiate aggressively with insurance adjusters. They are always prepared to escalate to litigation if the insurer rejects your claim or offers unfair compensation.
The Responsible Party Denies Fault
A personal injury lawyer can step in when fault is unclear or the other party is trying to blame you. They can analyze crucial evidence to prove liability.
Your choice of attorney should match the specific details of your injury case. Some personal injury cases include:
- Bycicle accident cases
- Truck accident cases
- Car accident cases
- Product liability cases
- Dog bite cases
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer: Seek Strong Legal Support Early
Knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer is crucial for a smooth claims process and securing maximum compensation. If you have sustained severe injuries or the insurance company is refusing your claim, call BDIW Law. Our attorneys (Boettcher, Devinney, Ingle & Wicker) are the team you want when the unexpected strikes.
For over 65 years, we have successfully handled a wide range of injury claims. We serve Oklahoma communities like Ponca City, Stillwater, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City.
