Your life changes the moment you’re involved in a serious car wreck.
One minute you’re cruising along fine. The next you’re injured, making insurance phone calls, and stressed out. Stressed out about what needs to happen next. About how you’re going to pay medical bills. About how your injuries affect your job and quality of life.
But what most accident victims don’t realize is the choices you make within the first couple days after an accident set the tone for your entire claim.
And…
…it’s not enough to just consult with a lawyer. Timing is everything.
Waiting too long to speak with an experienced auto accident injury lawyer can sabotage your case and cost you money in the long run. Follow along as this article explains exactly why.
What you’ll learn:
- Why there’s a Limited Time to Gather Evidence
- How quickly Evidence Can Vanish
- Why Insurance Companies love when you wait
- About Hidden injuries that come with delayed symptoms
- About Negligent security claims
Why There’s a Limited Time To Consult with a Lawyer and Gather Evidence
Car accidents aren’t minor crises.
According to the latest estimates from NHTSA, traffic crashes killed approximately 39,345 people in 2024. However, those are just deaths. The number of serious personal injuries likely affected 10x that number.
Because of this, the clock starts ticking on your claim the moment the wreck occurs.
Every state requires car wreck lawsuits to be filed within a certain period of time. This time frame varies, but if you miss the deadline, your claim is useless — no matter how strong.
That is why there’s a limited time to gather evidence and consult with a lawyer.
Whether the cause of the wreck was reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, or even another negligent security claim based on unsafe property conditions like broken lighting in a parking garage, an attorney can help identify all possible forms of compensation from day one. Consulting early ensures the attorney can help gather the evidence to support the claim.
But most people don’t contact an attorney until much later. Weeks, or even months, go by as they tend to their recovery. But time doesn’t stop just because the focus is on healing.
Which means it’s easy to run afoul of a state’s statute of limitations without realizing it. That’s why it pays to reach out to a lawyer ASAP.
How Quickly Evidence Can Vanish
If you’ve been involved in a serious wreck you might be surprised at how quickly evidence can vanish.
Video surveillance isn’t going to hang onto footage forever. Skid marks will eventually be washed away. Witnesses could move, pass on, or simply forget key details. And that motor vehicle you wrecked? It might get fixed up or scrapped before you have time to take photos.
You get the point.
When it comes to building a case, evidence is key.
Without hard proof that negligence was a factor, you’ll have a hard time winning your case. That’s exactly why an attorney will want to secure:
- Police accident reports
- Video surveillance from traffic and dashcams
- Witness testimony
- Medical records that connect injuries to the wreck
- Photos of your vehicle damage
So don’t wait to consult a lawyer. Help your attorney help you by securing evidence as soon as possible.
Why Insurance Companies Love When You Wait To Contact a Lawyer
Guess who loves it when injury victims wait to call a lawyer?
Insurance companies.
You know those adjusters calling you every ten minutes? Chances are they already have a settlement demand prepared based on the limited information you’ve provided.
The problem? Insurance companies always try to pay out claims as cheaply as possible.
You can bet that first offer will fall well short of your injuries and other losses. But once you sign that settlement, it’s over. You can’t come back later asking for more money when your injuries are worse than originally thought.
That’s how insurance companies make their money.
…but not if you contact a lawyer first.
An early consultation with an attorney can help you understand what your claim is worth before you accept any settlement offers. Never accept a deal without talking to a lawyer first.
Hidden Injuries That Occur With Delayed Symptoms
Cars wrecked? Check.
Doctor’s visit scheduled? Check.
Car insurance company notified? Check.
If this sounds like you, you might be tempted to kick back and relax while your case is handled.
Au contraire, mon ami. Unless.
Unless you thoroughly understand all the hidden injuries that commonly occur with delayed symptoms.
As traumatic as car wrecks can be, the body sometimes takes a little while to feel all the pain. Adrenaline usually kicks in to help the body deal with the crash, so injuries might not be visible or apparent for hours or even days afterward.
The National Safety Council estimates there were over 5 million motor vehicle injury collisions in the U.S. that required medical attention in a given year. The problem is many of those injuries don’t show up right away.
- Whiplash
- Serious headaches or migraines
- Internal bleeding
- Back pain, spasms, or numbness
- Stomach ailments
To name a few.
Injuries that show up days, weeks, or even months after a crash can completely destroy your claim if they aren’t caught early on. More on that below.
When a Negligent Security Claim Could Apply To Your Case
Did your car wreck happen on someone else’s property?
Was it caused by unsafe conditions?
If you answered yes to both of these questions, you might be able to file a negligent security claim against the property owner.
Negligent security claims can apply when an accident occurs based on the condition of someone’s property.
Parking garages are the perfect example. Perhaps there was inadequate lighting at the time of your wreck. Maybe security cameras were missing or not positioned to capture traffic violations. Or possibly the property was designed in such a way that made car collisions far more likely.
Basically, if you can prove negligence based on someone’s failure to provide reasonable security measures, you might be entitled to compensation from their insurance company as well.
Consulting with a Lawyer Soon After a Car Wreck is Key
Consulting with an experienced injury attorney after a serious car wreck should be priority number one.
Not only can an attorney evaluate the validity of the claim within days of the incident, but they can also begin gathering evidence to support the case right away. Evidence that would otherwise be destroyed or unavailable if you wait too long.
To sum it all up:
- You have limited time to file a lawsuit
- Evidence can disappear quickly
- Insurance companies want you to wait so they can pay you less
- Hidden injuries can appear with delayed symptoms
- A negligent security claim could apply to your case
Don’t wait to contact a lawyer.
The sooner you get legal help, the better chance you have at a successful outcome.
