Getting injured in a car accident is a traumatizing experience for us all, and it can be overwhelming if you decide to take the other driver to court for damages. More than likely, you will be in the hospital for quite some time while you heal from the injuries. You are losing out on wages from your job, which means money is tight enough that you aren’t sure if you can pay the medical bills.
Your car may also be totaled from the accident. This is why you need to hire a lawyer immediately after being injured. A lawyer will be able to tell you whether you have a personal injury case in court. Let’s look at three other reasons you need to hire a lawyer as soon as possible after being injured in a car accident.
1. The statute of limitations for personal injury is 3 years after the date of the injury in North Carolina.
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in the state of North Carolina is three years from the date of the injury. It takes time for the case to go through the court system, which makes it difficult if you decide to wait until after you leave the hospital to start the process.
It might take a while for you to heal and you’re losing out on your hard-earned money through your job during this time as well. This is why you need to speak with a lawyer to get the process started while still in the hospital. The earlier you hire a lawyer, the earlier your case will be processed for approval.
2. You need to handle your civil case correctly from the beginning.
There tends to be a lot of steps in the process of getting the money you deserve from a personal injury case. You can make some damaging mistakes during the time it takes to go after compensation for the injury. There is a lot of paperwork that needs to be filed by a certain deadline, and there’s also the statute of limitations for filing the claim in the first place. It can be very overwhelming for even the best of us and can be a time ripe for mistakes if you don’t have help with it.
This is why you need a lawyer on your side to make sure everything falls into place. Your lawyer will be able to make sure all the paperwork is filed on time and make sure all the evidence in your favor is compiled in easy reach for those who need to see it in court. The lawyer you hire will also make sure you don’t say anything that can damage your case, which tends to happen when speaking to the insurance company of the other driver. Hiring a lawyer at the very beginning of your case will make sure you get the money you deserve.
3. The insurance adjustor will want to speak with you about your injury.
One of the worst things you can do when going through the civil case process is speak to the insurance adjustor for the other driver without a lawyer present. One thing the adjustor will want to do is catch you telling parts of the story that are different from the original story you told. Once this happens, if it does, the insurance company will have all the evidence they need to deny your claim. A lawyer will be able to make sure you don’t say anything that differs from the story you originally told.
Your lawyer might even suggest that you do not speak to the insurance adjustor after the first time you speak with the insurance company. This is to protect your interests in this civil case and to make sure your case is approved for processing. A lawyer working in your favor can make sure you get the money you deserve.
Injured in a car wreck? Contact one of our Greenville auto accident attorneys for help. Consultations are free until your case is won: (252) 777-2222.