Waiting Too Long to Seek Legal Advice Can Cost You Dearly I spoke with an old friend I had not spoken with in years. He knows our firm represents plaintiffs in personal injury actions and wanted to ask some questions about an accident he had a few years back. This often happens in personal injury actions. I’ve heard almost every reason imaginable for not seeking advice sooner. ‘I didn’t think I was as injured as I was.’ Or ‘I’m not the litigious type…’ are a few excuses for not speaking with an attorney immediately following an accidental injury. Waiting too long to get legal advice is one of the worst mistakes you can make.
Waiting too long diminishes your chances of winning
The longer one waits to seek legal advice after an accident, the more likely the case weakens. And the value of that claim diminishes. The defendant’s insurance carrier will often contact the injured party and obtain a statement. Defendants can legally contact a potential plaintiff if an attorney does not represent that person. You might think, ‘Well, I have nothing to hide. I’m not going to lie. so what is the harm in giving a statement?’ Well, insurance carriers are experts at taking statements to diminish the value of your claim if you decide later to contact an attorney. Any statement you make can be used against you in future litigation to discredit you and ultimately devalue your claim.
Don't talk to insurance adjusters
The person contacting you will often seem courteous, sympathetic, and likable. But don’t be fooled; that person taking your statement is trained to be courteous, sympathetic, and likable to get your guard down and encourage you to speak freely. Even seemingly minor details can haunt you later in your lawsuit. They will only diminish the value of your case. Dozens of times a year, people contact our firm and ask if it’s too late for them to file a lawsuit for an injury that occurred a few years back. Too often, it is too late for that person to file. That failure to act quickly after an accidental injury serves only to take away money rightfully due to the injured party and put it right back into the pockets of the defendant’s insurance carrier. It costs you nothing to
speak with an attorney. You are never obligated to retain an attorney you speak with regarding your accidental injury.
Call Our Personal Injury Attorneys
So call us and find out what your rights are if you were
injured on the job, on a
construction site, on a
trip and fall, or in a
motor vehicle accident. Even if you are unsure whether you have a case, call us. Again, it costs nothing to speak with an attorney, but it could cost you everything if you don’t!