When Should I Hire an Attorney After Being in an Accident?

When you get hurt in an auto wreck, hiring an Orlando car accident attorney is the best thing you can do to make sure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. But, when do you need to hire a lawyer? Should you hire one right away, or are there steps you should take on your own before scheduling a free consultation? 

The answer to these questions is simple: After being injured in an accident, you should hire an attorney as soon as possible. There is no reason to wait, but there are several reasons why you should speak with a lawyer right away. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible After a Wreck

Here are five of the most important reasons why you should hire an attorney as soon after an accident as possible:

1. You Need to Make Sure You See an Appropriate Doctor

While you should seek medical treatment as soon after an accident as possible, it is also important to make sure you see an appropriate doctor. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, you will want to choose a doctor who specializes in treating traumatic injuries and who understands the importance of thoroughly documenting both the cause and effects of your trauma. If you were injured in a work accident, you may need to see a doctor who has been pre-approved by your employer in order to remain eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. 

An experienced accident attorney will be able to help you decide where to go for treatment. When you hire an attorney immediately after your accident, your attorney can work with your doctor to ensure that he or she has the medical documentation needed to prove your legal rights as well. 

2. You Need to Collect Key Evidence Before it Disappears

Recovering just compensation for an accident requires evidence of where, when, and most importantly why the accident happened. Much of this evidence will be located at the scene of the accident—but it most likely won’t be there for long. When you hire an attorney promptly, your attorney can send an investigator to gather the available evidence at the scene before it disappears. 

3. You Need to Avoid Mistakes that Could Jeopardize Your Accident Claim

If you are entitled to financial compensation for your accident, you will need to avoid several mistakes so you don’t jeopardize your claim. This includes mistakes in the days—and even hours—after the accident. When you hire an Orlando car accident attorney to represent you, your attorney will help you avoid mistakes such as:

• Seeing the wrong doctor for treatment 
• Throwing away evidence or deleting evidence (i.e., photos and videos) on your phone 
• Saying the wrong thing to the insurance companies 
• Letting the insurance companies tell you what to do
• Making assumptions that lead you into costly decisions 

4. You Need to Preserve Your Legal Rights

As an accident victim in Florida, there are steps you need to take to preserve your legal rights. If you don’t take these steps, you could lose your ability to recover just compensation.

The specific steps you need to take will depend on the circumstances surrounding your accident. For example, if you were injured in a vehicle collision, you will most likely need to report the accident to the police and your insurance company. If you were injured on the job, you will need to report the accident to your employer to preserve your workers’ compensation eligibility. If you were injured on someone else’s property, you will want to do whatever you can to document the accident as thoroughly as possible. Your lawyer can determine what is necessary and make sure you take all of the necessary steps (or take the necessary steps on your behalf) on time. 

5. You Want to Collect Just Compensation as Soon as Possible

Finally, if you are like most accident victims, you will want to recover just compensation and move on with your life as soon as possible. This means that you need to get started with your claim as soon as possible. At Colling Gilbert Wright, our attorneys can get to work on your claim immediately, and we will do everything we can to help you obtain a quick and favorable settlement. 

Talk to an Orlando Car Accident Attorney For Free

A serious car crash can turn your life upside down. You may be facing hospital bills, severe pain, and lost wages. Our Orlando car accident lawyers can help. If you’ve been injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, it is in your best interest to contact our office right away.

See our results. 

Call (800) 766-1000 or tell us how we can reach you online to schedule a free consultation today. We handle accident cases on a contingency basis, so you won’t owe anything unless we obtain a favorable outcome for you.