May 2, 2021
After a car accident, you might not feel injured. You may not even realize you need medical treatment for a few days afterwards. If you wait to make a claim, how much time do you have? The answer is that it depends.
Making a Claim With An Insurance Company
Your insurance company may require you to make a claim within a certain time frame of an accident. The longer you wait, it can be harder to gather evidence. The insurance company may also be suspicious of delayed claims. You should report an accident to your insurance company as quickly as possible. Each state has laws on how quickly you should report to the insurance company, from immediately to up to 6 months. If you call the police at the time of the accident, you are typically in line with reporting laws. Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the insurance company may not settle quickly.
Filing a Lawsuit After an Auto Accident
Most states have laws that govern how quickly you must bring a lawsuit after a personal injury or auto accident. It’s called the statute of limitations. If you do decide that a lawsuit is required to get the insurance company to fully compensate you for your injuries, you’ll be faced with another timeline. This statute of limitations varies greatly, depending on where you live, from 1 to 5 years or even longer. In some cases, the timeline might be shorter, such as when you’re filing against a government entity.
Talking to a Lawyer Helps You Understand Your Rights
In car accidents with serious injuries, you may not know the complexity of the issues for weeks or even months after the accident. Talking to a lawyer can give you information to help you know how much time you have to file a claim. You don’t have to make a decision right away when you know your time frame. Your local car accident lawyer such as Barry P. Goldberg may be able to help negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company to keep you out of court.
You may want to wait to file a lawsuit, to find out all the damages. The problem is that if you wait too long, you might miss your window of opportunity. Make an appointment with a car accident lawyer who can advise you of your rights and responsibilities to protect yourself. Weigh the pros and cons of filing a lawsuit and take the right steps for your situation.