Should You Wait Before Hiring a Lawyer?
After an accident, it can be exhausting trying to get all the medical care you need to recover. Many people are already overwhelmed with family responsibilities and work. Throw in a serious injury like a burn, back injury, or a concussion, and few people have the time to look for a Delray Beach personal injury lawyer.
Nevertheless, the worst thing you can do is wait. Instead, you should really hire an attorney as soon as possible. In this article, we will explain how an attorney can help you build your case for compensation.
A Lawyer Can Preserve Evidence
Evidence wins lawsuits. You can’t go into court and just announce that someone injured you. You need to back it up with proof. This proof can take many forms:
- Damage on your vehicle that shows the speed and angle of contact
- Your own memories
- Witness testimony about what they saw
- Police reports
- Surveillance video that might have captured the accident
Some of this evidence can disappear if it is not preserved in a timely manner. Witnesses might be hard to find with the passage of time, and surveillance video can be overwritten. Your own memories might also begin to fade before you record what happened.
If you are injured, you might be unable to leave the house. This is where an attorney can come in. Your personal injury lawyer can quickly help gather all relevant evidence, making it easier for you to prove your claim later.
You Have a Limited Amount of Time to Sue
Florida’s statute of limitations sets the maximum amount of time you have to bring a lawsuit for your injuries. If you were injured in a car accident, then you have 4 years from the date of the crash. If a loved one died, family members only have 2 years from the date of death to bring a wrongful death claim.
This might sound like a lot of time, but it really isn’t. You can quickly lose track of time as you participate in rehabilitation or negotiations with the defendant. An attorney can make sure you bring a suit in the right court to protect your rights.
Your Lawyer Can Work with Insurance Adjusters
Submitting insurance forms is time consuming and fraught with problems. You might leave out critical information, or you could forget to provide required medical records.
Also, you might make a statement to an insurance adjuster that, in retrospect, you wish you hadn’t. Many adjusters are looking for reasons to discount your claim, and they might try to get you to admit to partial responsibility for the accident. By hiring a lawyer, you have a trusted advocate who can handle all communications with insurance adjusters, allowing you to focus on getting well.
You Need a Delray Beach Personal Injury Lawyer
Earnhart Law has been practicing in Delray Beach for over 30 years. The community has come to expect a lot from us, and we credit our passionate advocacy on behalf of our clients for our high reputation in the community.
If you need legal assistance, please contact us today. We offer free, confidential consultations with an experienced lawyer, which you can schedule if you call 561-265-2220.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0095/Sections/0095.11.html
https://www.delrayinjuryattorneys.com/how-to-stay-safe-at-the-beach/
