A vehicle accident can be a scary and traumatizing experience for anyone involved. Though most vehicle accident claims in Utah settle with insurance providers, it does not mean that it is easy for the collision victim to recover the compensation that they deserve. It is common for insurance providers to put up a fight; they prey on claimants to get as much information to lower the compensation. This is why we have taken the liberty to educate our clients of when to hire a car accident attorney to help with their claim.
Hiring an Accident Attorney Immediately After an Accident
In most cases, there is a clear indicator that an attorney should be necessary to handle the issues encountered after a car crash occurs. Some of the main reasons you may need immediate legal representation include the following:
- To dispute who caused the accident
- Victims suffered catastrophic injuries
- A fatality was a result of the accident
- Insurance providers are fighting the total amount paid for the settlement
In fact, if it looks like the legal process is becoming complicated at any time, the claimant should seek assistance from an experienced vehicle collision attorney as soon as possible. The sooner, the better, as an attorney can quickly step in and gather all the best evidence to ensure more compensation. This type of evidence includes but is not limited to video, photos, surveillance footage of the accident, eyewitness reports, examination of the involved vehicles, and more.
When an attorney is hired promptly, they can handle filing the claim with the insurance provider and even handle any initial negotiations.
Hiring an Attorney Long After an Accident
Many do not think about contacting an attorney immediately after an accident, which is understandable, especially when people are unaware of the expenses after suffering an injury from a car accident. However, as you are trying to reach an understanding with your insurance company, it’s best to hire an attorney; they can prevent the insurance company from making you run around and circles and settle for your compensation. An attorney can also take over any communications with third parties, such as insurance providers and any other legal teams involved. If you think that your claim is too far gone and you are unsure if obtaining an attorney is even plausible, know that it is never too late to contact an attorney after a car crash (except if your claim is too close to the statute of limitations). Most attorneys work on a contingency fee, meaning that they don’t get any money until the case is resolved. So don’t feel like you need to shell out some more money to get legal representation.
As stated before, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Utah is four years from the date of the injury. A victim of a car accident that fails to file a claim during this four-year window will not be able to get any compensation for their loses, so call our expert Utah car accident lawyers today at (801) 839-4411 to get a free consultation and have an attorney handle your claim so you can focus on recovering.
