Many people often go back and forth for some time when trying to decide whether or not they should consult a personal injury lawyer regarding the injuries they suffered in an accident. While some of these individuals will ultimately choose to contact a lawyer, the delay in seeking legal representation could impact the final outcome of their case. Continue reading to learn more about the negative impact this delay can have and why you should never put off consulting a personal injury lawyer after being injured in an accident.

Reason #1: Statute Of Limitations On Personal Injury Lawsuits

While many personal injury cases will be settled out of court, there is always the possibility that you will need to file a lawsuit with the court in order to recover damages. Unfortunately, there is a statute of limitations associated with these cases. This means that you will only have a limited amount of time to file your lawsuit with the court. If you put off consulting a personal injury lawyer, you could find that the statute of limitations in your case has expired and you are no longer able to file a lawsuit. 

Reason #2: Potentially Damaging Statements

Many people choose not to consult a personal injury lawyer until after they already tried unsuccessfully to settle their claim on their own. The problem with this is that when first attempting to negotiate with the insurance company on your own, you will be forced to make a statement regarding the accident. If you do not have experience in the legal field, it is possible that the statement you give could actually damage your case. That is why you should always consult a personal injury attorney before making any statements to the insurance company. 

Reason #3: Time-Sensitive Evidence

While the hope is always that the insurance company does not challenge liability in your personal injury case, it is important to always proceed as though liability will be challenged. This is because if the insurance company does decide to challenge liability in your case, you will need to be prepared to present evidence that clearly establishes liability. The problem is that much of this evidence can be time-sensitive. For instance, obtaining witness statements can be difficult as time goes on since not all potential witnesses will be able to be located several weeks or months after the accident. Witness statements that are given long after the accident may also be considered less reliable. Consulting a personal injury lawyer right away will ensure that they are able to quickly collect any time-sensitive evidence which may prove helpful in winning your case.

For more info, contact a personal injury lawyer near you.