Time is everything in a personal injury case. Evidence is lost, people forget, witnesses become unavailable, and the law does not wait for anyone. When you delay, you are essentially weakening your case.
“Acting fast means you save important evidence, clear up who is responsible, and have more leverage when it is time to negotiate. Dragging your feet just helps the other side,” says personal injury lawyer AW Smith of A.W. Smith Law Firm.
Continue reading to learn how acting early can change everything for you.
Preserving Critical Evidence
Taking legal action early is everything in a personal injury case. When an accident occurs, things disappear instantly. Skid marks evaporate, video evidence is deleted, and repairs begin.
Starting early means your lawyer jumps into your case early on, they will collect your medical records, interview your witnesses, and hold onto your physical evidence so that it does not get misplaced.
Missouri courts heavily rely upon documentation in determining your culpability and your damages award. Therefore, it is important that you jump into your case early on so that everything remains in order and you can support your claim with hard evidence.
More Powerful Negotiating Position
Jumping into your case early puts you in a more powerful position when it comes to negotiations with insurance companies. Insurance companies will often jump into action as soon as possible to look out for themselves and get you to settle for less than what you deserve, often without you being aware of just how bad your injuries really are.
Getting things moving early and hiring a lawyer from the get-go means your lawyer will be able to keep everything in order and manage everything from your medical records to your losses, so that you cannot be pressured into a bad settlement by the insurance company. It will also prove that you are a serious party and that the insurance company will take you seriously.
Meeting Legal Deadlines
If you begin early, you get in the driver’s seat. You have five years in the state of Missouri to file your personal injury claim. Time has a way of sneaking up on people. It takes much more time than expected to gather all the paperwork and bills.
Beginning sooner rather than later means everything is in order well before the deadline. You are able to make rational decisions without the pressure of time ticking away. You are also not rushed at the last minute. It also protects your right to the compensation that you deserve.
Protecting Your Financial Stability
Starting early after an injury will also help protect your financial stability. There are no breaks for bills and other expenses. The more time that passes, the more complicated your financial situation will become. If you start early, everything is well documented as it happens. This documentation is gold when it is time to show how much you have lost.
Being proactive also makes it possible to determine exactly what compensation is needed to remain financially stable during recovery. When things feel like a whirlwind, being proactive offers a step-by-step guide to getting through it and gives you real control.
Partnering with the Right Lawyer
While getting the ball rolling quickly is important, the right lawyer will play a large role in determining the course of the rest of your case. A good personal injury lawyer in Missouri will know how to bring all of the pieces of your case together and how to deal with insurance companies that will try to give you as little as possible.
When it comes time to choose a personal injury lawyer, it is a good idea to find someone with a strong background in personal injury cases and a solid track record with settlements. The right attorney will know how to keep things moving and will make sure that you get as much out of your case as you possibly can.
