After you’re in a car accident, it’s natural to want to get things settled as soon as possible. However, there is no set time frame for when you should hire a car accident lawyer Skokie Illinois after being involved in an accident.
Typically, you want to make sure you get medical attention first, file any reports with the police and insurance companies, and then contact an attorney. When you are ready to pursue a personal injury claim, contact Carlson Bier Associates at 312-622-2900 for a consultation.
There is no set time frame to hire a lawyer right after a car accident
There is no set time frame to hire a lawyer right after a car accident. It depends on the circumstances of your case, as well as your injuries and other factors. You may want to consider:
- How severe was the accident? If it was minor, you might not need an attorney at all, or you can get by with just having medical records from the hospital and doctor’s office (or any other medical providers). In this case, hiring an attorney may be putting money where it isn’t needed or even wanted.
- Are your injuries severe? If so, then getting medical treatment should be one of your main priorities—but how soon do you need to see doctors and therapists in order for them to treat your injuries properly? You may want legal representation before reaching out for medical assistance because by then there will be more evidence (through witnesses) about what happened during those moments immediately after impact. However, if someone else caused this accident then they should take responsibility for paying any bills related directly back to court when filing suit against their own insurance provider.
Don’t wait too long to hire our car accident lawyer Skokie Illinois
After an accident, you may be tempted to wait weeks or months before hiring a lawyer. You may think that you’ll just get in touch with one when the time is right. But this is not advisable. There is a statute of limitations in Illinois (typically 2 years), so waiting may be detrimental to your ability to file a claim.
Hiring a car accident lawyer Skokie Illinois as soon after the accident as possible will help you get what’s needed following the incident. A lawyer who knows how to navigate these situations can better represent your interests in court, ensuring that you receive compensation for damages and injuries sustained during an accident.
Seek medical attention right away
It’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident. If you experience pain or discomfort, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor to ensure that you don’t have any serious injuries that require immediate medical attention.
If you do have any major injuries, the sooner they’re diagnosed and treated, the better your recovery prospects will be. It’s also worthwhile to get copies of your medical records from any hospitals or clinics that treated you following the accident. These records can help prove your injuries were sustained in an auto crash and may be useful if there is an insurance dispute about responsibility for them later on down the road.
Don’t admit fault at the scene of an accident
It’s a good idea to not admit fault at the scene of an accident. If you do, you could be opening yourself up to further liability that could cost you more money in the long run. It’s also not uncommon for insurance companies and other parties involved in an accident to try and get people on record admitting fault. Don’t do it. Instead:
- When officers arrive at the scene, they’ll likely ask questions like “who was driving?” or “who was at fault?” Your best bet is just to say something like “I don’t know yet” or “I’m not sure.”
- Don’t sign anything without first consulting with a lawyer. From waivers that say who was responsible for what (more on this next) to forms saying how much insurance will pay out for medical bills/lost wages due after an accident should not be signed without consulting a car accident lawyer Skokie Illinois from Carlson Bier Associates.
Waiting too long can result in missing deadlines and losing valuable evidence in a claim
Remember, the first thing you should do after a car accident is seek medical attention. You don’t need to wait until you’re fully healed before hiring a lawyer and should never admit fault at the scene of an accident. It’s also important to begin documenting your injuries and how they are affecting your life so that when it comes time for trial, you have plenty of facts on hand. Finally, if possible try getting contact information from anyone involved in the crash or any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Waiting too long to hire a lawyer is an all-too-common mistake. If you wait too long, your claim may be denied or reduced due to the loss of important evidence and missed deadlines. Our car accident lawyer Skokie Illinois will make sure that all deadlines are met and that you are able to get fair compensation for any injuries or other issues. Contact us today for a consultation.