How Soon Should I Call a Personal Injury Attorney?

October 22, 2020
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If you were seriously hurt in some kind of preventable accident, your first priority should be your health. As soon as your condition stabilizes, though, it’s wise to call a personal injury attorney.

Should you have grounds for a claim, enlisting legal help immediately will bolster your case in more ways than one. Here are some of the biggest reasons to call a lawyer promptly after getting hurt at the hands of someone else:

1. To Preserve Time-Sensitive Evidence

Depending on the circumstances, some of the strongest evidence of liability may not be available indefinitely. If you were hurt in a large truck crash, for example, the driver’s logs and black box data may be destroyed after just six months. If, on the other hand, you were the victim of medical malpractice, the doctor who treated you may be inclined to alter your records as soon as he or she realizes what happened.

Turning to a reputable personal injury firm right away will give your legal team the chance to gather potentially time-sensitive evidence before it’s tampered with or destroyed altogether.

2. To Avoid Making Critical Mistakes

There are more than a dozen ways for an injured party to jeopardize his or her case inadvertently in the days or weeks following an accident. Some of the most common mistakes include:

  • Posting about the incident on social media;
  • Giving the insurance adjuster a recorded statement;
  • Accepting blame before conducting a thorough investigation into what really happened; and
  • Accepting a settlement before confirming the extent of the damages.

The sooner you call an attorney, the sooner you can hand over virtually every aspect of the case. As such, you won’t have to worry about making any major mistakes. In addition to advising you, a lawyer will handle all correspondence with the opposing party so they cannot manipulate you into somehow jeopardizing your claim.

3. To Meet All Critical Deadlines

If the liable party refuses to offer a fair settlement or disputes liability, filing a formal lawsuit may be the only way to pursue the compensation you deserve. As there are strict deadlines for doing so, it’s important to act fast.

South Carolina’s standard statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is three years. That means most plaintiffs have three years from the date on which they were hurt to file a suit. Since there are a few exceptions that can shorten this deadline considerably, though—if you plan to name a government entity, for example, you have just two years—it’s wise to seek counsel as soon as possible.

Call 864-585-3873 to Discuss Your Case with a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt through no fault of your own, turn to Hodge & Langley Law Firm for exceptional legal representation. Our team has nearly 50 years of combined experience in the legal field.

By letting us handle the logistics of your case, you can focus on more important matters, like making a full recovery. Call 864-585-3873 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.

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