Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were in a car accident that was someone else’s fault and did not receive any compensation for it, your best option is likely to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Everyone who suffers at the hands of another person has the right to compensation, even if that suffering was just monetary. If you were injured, either physically or emotionally, then you may be entitled to even more compensation. This does raise the question, however, of how long you can wait after the accident before hiring legal representation. This guide will answer this question.

Attend to Your Medical Needs

Your top priority should always be to receive the medical attention you need. If you were injured in the accident, do not worry about seeking out a lawyer until you are healthy again. The law allows everyone enough time to recover, so no one has to organize a lawsuit while still suffering.

There is another very important reason to wait until you are healthy again. If you file a lawsuit before your medical treatment is complete, then you will not know how much to sue for. After your treatment is finished, you will know the exact dollar value that you lost as a result of the accident.

How Long You Have

The specific amount of time you have depends heavily on which state you live in. The time limit you have to file a lawsuit is called the statute of limitations, and each state has a statute of limitations of a different length. The type of lawsuit also affects this time limit. A personal injury case has a different statute of limitations than a lawsuit only involving damage to property. Typically, the statute of limitations is two or three years.

However, it is always a good idea to hire an attorney as soon as you are able to. The sooner you hire an attorney, the better your chances of winning your lawsuit. When the accident is fresh, it is easier to find witnesses and to recall the events of the accident. On top of that, the statute of limitations limits how long you have to file a lawsuit. The actual filing process takes time, so you should hire a car accident lawyer in DC far before the statute of limitations is up. Many attorneys have free consultations, there are always free legal services available, and there are many legal representatives that will work pro bono, so never let financial hardship delay the hiring of an attorney.

Thanks to The Law Office of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. for their insight into personal injury claims and when to hire an attorney.