It’s rarely too late to get a lawyer for a car accident claim in Massachusetts. A Boston car accident lawyer can step in to help you even if you wait before reaching out for legal advice and guidance.
However, if you have already accepted a settlement from the insurance company, the statute of limitations has passed, or have gone through the entire court system without legal help, it may limit the services an attorney can provide.
You can increase your chances of receiving fair compensation for your pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, medical bills, and lost pay by contacting an attorney immediately after a collision.
When Should You Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
The professionals recommend contacting a legal professional immediately after any crash resulting in property damage, injury, or fatality. Getting help right away means you’ll have someone on your side when dealing with the at-fault motorist and their insurance company.
You can reach out to your Boston injury lawyers before you leave the scene of the collision to give yourself a better chance of receiving fair treatment through the legal system.
However, even if you wait before reaching out to a law firm, it isn’t necessarily too late to get a lawyer for a car accident. Under all circumstances, you want to make sure you speak to a lawyer before accepting a settlement offer just to be sure that everything that should be included in the offer is, in fact, included in the offer.
What Else Should You Do Immediately After a Crash?
You should take a few other steps in the aftermath of a collision with another motorist. In many cases, legal professionals recommend that you:
- Contact the police and report the accident
- Take pictures of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle
- Get contact information from eyewitnesses
- Seek medical care for any injuries you sustained
Taking these steps can strengthen your claim for compensation.
Additionally, you should avoid leaving the accident scene before you’ve reported the crash and exchanged information with other involved parties. If you leave too early, the police could accuse you of a hit-and-run.
Is it Too Late to Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident After Going to the Hospital?
It is not too late to get a lawyer after going to the hospital. In fact, it is entirely recommended that you get the medical care you need as soon as you need it.
It actually helps to prove you were injured in the crash. You can contact an attorney for help after, or while, visiting the hospital to get treatment for your injuries. You may require emergency care for broken bones, a concussion, whiplash, or other catastrophic injuries, and it would be harmful to you to wait to speak to a lawyer beforehand.
It is helpful to everyone, especially your attorney, to keep records of all the treatment you receive. These records can establish when your collision occurred and provide proof that the crash directly caused your injuries and other losses.
A Lawyer Can Help Before You Deal with the Insurance Company
While it isn’t too late to get a lawyer for a car accident if you’ve already spoken with the other driver’s insurance company, getting legal help first can protect you while also strengthening your claim.
In many cases, attorneys advise against providing a recorded statement to any insurance company, regardless of whether it is your insurance company or the one that represents the other motorist. The company may use this information against you to deny your claim.
Additionally, the insurance company may push you to accept a subpar settlement if you don’t have an attorney on your side. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you likely will lose your chance to secure additional compensation for your losses.
Can You Wait Too Long to File a Car Accident Claim?
Massachusetts has a three–year statute of limitations that applies to most car accident claims, and if you wait until this statute expires, you likely will lose your chance to file a claim for fair compensation from the at-fault party.
Therefore, it may be too late to get an attorney for a car accident if you wait for this deadline to pass.
Of course, if you were under 18 when the crash happened or if you have a disability that prevented you from filing a lawsuit, you may have more time.
What Are the Benefits of Contacting a Lawyer Right Away?
Reaching out to a lawyer immediately after a collision provides you with several benefits. You’ll have someone who can give professional answers to all of your questions. At Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, we know that gives peace of mind. An attorney can also help you avoid common mistakes, including:
- Admitting fault for the crash
- Posting about the accident on social media
- Downplaying the severity of your injuries
Your lawyer can immediately collect evidence to back up your story of what caused the crash. Beginning an investigation immediately can improve the odds of your attorney gathering all relevant evidence.
Your attorney may need to:
- Canvas local businesses to get surveillance video showing the crash
- Talk to eyewitnesses to get their official statements
- Get a copy of the police report
- Collect any photos of the collision
- Work with car accident experts
You can learn more by reaching out to a local law firm for help.
Getting Help Immediately Can Boost Your Compensation
Reaching out to a lawyer immediately after your collision can increase your chances of securing fair compensation for all of your losses, including your:
- Emotional suffering and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium and loss of companionship
- Pain that could keep you from going about your daily life
- Current and future healthcare costs
- Lost pay
- Diminished earning potential
An attorney can explain how pain and suffering are calculated in a car accident case and track your other expenses.
Talk to Us About Your Legal Options After a Car Crash
When is it too late to get a lawyer for a car accident? Hardly ever. You can benefit from hiring a car accident attorney from our team at Jason Stone Injury Lawyers at nearly any point within 3 years of the crash.
We’re a local law firm with over two decades of experience to turn to for your claim. You can contact us 24/7, and we’ll provide you with a free consultation as part of our Stone Cold Guarantee®.
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