Whether you were hurt in an accident that happened a few hours ago one that occurred a few weeks ago, at some point you may wonder if contacting a Utah personal injury lawyer is a good idea.
While being on the fence about hiring an attorney is understandable, if you’re thinking about talking to a legal professional, the answer should always be yes. Most lawyers who specialize in personal injury law offer free consultations, giving you the opportunity to get answers and advice without any obligation. In our opinion, there’s really no downside to calling a Utah personal injury lawyer.
As for when to reach out to a local lawyer, sooner is better. Waiting could be problematic for your accident claim, decreasing your odds of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
If you’re like many of the Utah accident victims we’ve helped over the past 30 years, you may not have thought of calling a personal injury lawyer right away. In our experience, victims often only decide to contact a legal professional when faced with one of the following situations:
Serious Injuries
Many people don’t want to make a bigger deal out of their accident or their injuries than necessary. So, instead of calling a lawyer, they try to tough it out.
Whether you were hurt badly enough to require an ambulance ride to the emergency room or you’ve come to realize that your injuries are getting worse, medical professionals can guide you toward recovery. But to obtain the compensation you need to rebuild your life after an accident, you may need the help of an experienced Utah personal injury attorney.
Mounting Frustration
Dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be incredibly stressful. However, many victims attempt to shoulder the burdens on their own.
Being in an accident triggers a storm of phone calls from insurance companies, and everyone wants you to answer questions, fill out incident reports and give statements. The pressure can be overwhelming, particularly if you have serious injuries, and saying the wrong thing could compromise your accident claim. Working with a lawyer will make your life much easier, allowing you to focus on getting better.
Financial Troubles
Accidents can lead to major expenses. Some victims don’t really have a grasp of the costs involved, not until the bills start rolling in.
After an accident, you’ll likely be billed for thousands of dollars (or even tens of thousands) in medical expenses. Damage to your car and other property could also result in enormous costs, and if you’re unable to work, you may not have the funds to stay afloat. Your financial stability is too important to sacrifice, and a personal injury lawyer can help put an end to your worries about paying for accident-related expenses.
The moment you begin to suspect that you could really use legal assistance, you should pick up the phone. Every day you hold off on getting a personal injury attorney involved puts your claim at risk. Here’s why calling as soon as possible is in your best interests:
Deadlines
All legal proceedings have a statute of limitations. In Utah, you have just four years from the date of an accident to bring an injury claim to court. For a property damage claim, the time limit is three years. Settlement negotiations can take much of that time, and if you need to file a lawsuit to secure compensation, you’ll have to do so before the deadline passes. If you wait too long to seek out legal assistance, even the most experienced personal injury lawyer may not be able to help.
Evidence
To get the compensation you deserve after an accident, you’ll need to prove that the other individual involved is at fault. You also need evidence that clearly reveals the severity of your injuries. But certain types of proof that can be used to support your accident claim – like video surveillance footage or statements from witnesses who observed the incident – might not be around forever. If you don’t call a lawyer soon, you may be letting important evidence slip away.
Outcome
Every personal injury claim is unique. Here at William R. Rawlings & Associates, our legal team has decades of experience helping Utah accident victims. That means we have a vast pool of professional knowledge we can draw from, which is certainly beneficial. However, we still need to give each claim ample attention. For that, we need time. The earlier you contact our Utah personal injury law office, the earlier our attorneys can begin working to achieve a favorable case outcome.
If you were injured in a car wreck, motorcycle crash, semi-truck collision or any other type of accident, William R. Rawlings & Associates is here to fight for your right to compensation. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our immensely skilled personal injury lawyers, contact our law office in Draper, Utah, today.