Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I wait a few months to pursue a personal injury claim?”
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, your entire life might come to an abrupt stop. While getting injured can be a life-altering event, you do not have to go through this alone. A personal injury lawyer on your side can review your situation and explain your legal options.
However, many people who sustain injuries in various types of accidents are reluctant to contact an attorney right away. While you have a right to handle your case on your own, there are situations in which it is best to hire a personal injury lawyer to protect your legal rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Below, we will discuss when you should contact a lawyer following an accident.
You Need Help Investigating Your Accident
In many accidents, fault is not immediately clear, which is why you need a skilled personal injury lawyer to help you negotiate your particular accident and determine liability.
Conducting a thorough investigation and collecting evidence can strengthen your personal injury claim, which, in turn, will result in a higher settlement amount.
Also, it makes sense to contact an attorney to let them handle the legal side of things while you can focus on your speedy recovery.
You are Dealing With Insurance Companies
When your accident involves another party whose negligence may have caused your injury, you will most likely have to deal with their insurance company.
While insurance adjusters may make it sound like they are on your side, you need to keep in mind that insurers make profits by undervaluing and denying legitimate claims.
For this reason, if you are contacted by an insurance company, it is advised to seek legal counsel from a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in North Carolina to let him communicate and negotiate with insurers on your behalf.
Note: Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company before you consult with a lawyer. Saying the wrong things could give the insurer grounds to reject your claim.
Your Injury is Serious or Permanent
Do not hesitate to contact a North Carolina personal injury attorney if you suffered a serious or permanent injury as a result of someone else’s negligence.
If your disability or injury is severe and permanent in nature, it is vital to have a lawyer who would calculate your short-term and long-term damages and losses. Serious injuries can have a lasting impact on your quality of life and earning capacity, which is why it is important to:
- Request maximum compensation; and
- Refuse to settle for less than you deserve.
Contact a North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Before the Statute of Limitations Expires
It takes time to investigate an accident, establish fault, collect evidence, draft a demand letter, talk to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, and do many other things to prepare a personal injury claim.
According to N.C.G.S. § 1-52, you have only three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. That is why it is crucial to speak with a lawyer immediately after the accident to start building your claim as soon as possible.
Contact our North Carolina personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, to get a consultation about your particular situation. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video or phone consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_1/Article_5.pdf
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/broken-arm-1152672
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