How Soon Should You Wait Before Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit?

The multimillion-dollar personal injury lawsuits that make the news headlines have one thing in common, namely, the time from the accident to the big payday is several years, a painfully long time if you are unable to work because of a severe injury.  For example, a case in California just yielded a $68 million payout last month; it started when a child was seriously injured in a hotel hot tub in 2015. Part of the reason for the long timeframe is that complex cases, in which the plaintiff has suffered permanent injuries and is seeking millions of dollars in damages, take years to prepare for trial, even if the case settles before a judge or jury hears the arguments. Another reason is that the deadline for filing a lawsuit is not immediately after the accident, even though Louisiana has a shorter deadline than some other states.  Even though no one files a car accident lawsuit the day after the accident, it is never too soon to contact a Houma car accident lawyer.

Louisiana’s One-Year Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits

In Louisiana, the statute of limitations (legal deadline) for filing a car accident lawsuit is one year after the date of the accident; if you file the lawsuit later than that, the court will reject it. Why do some people file the lawsuit 11 months after the accident instead of as soon as they find out that their medical bills will be more expensive than the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits? Often, it is because they are still receiving treatment for their injuries, and therefore it is not possible to know how much their total medical bills will be, and thus how much money to ask for in the lawsuit. If you still have not reached maximum medical improvement and the one-year deadline is quickly approaching, your lawyer can help you figure out how much to request.

When to Contact a Lawyer

Even if almost a year has gone by when you file the car accident lawsuit, you should not wait that long before you contact a car accident lawyer. In fact, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the better. The best time to get a lawyer on board is before the insurance companies call you and ask you for a recorded statement. Personal injury lawyers know how to avoid the insurance adjusters’ traps where they try to get you to admit fault or contradict yourself, undermining your credibility. Even if it is already too late for that, you should contact a lawyer before you decide whether to sign the settlement offer from the insurance company.

Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Your Car Accident Case Sooner Rather Than Later

A car accident lawyer can help you navigate the long process of getting the money you need after a car accident; while the length of time to payout depends partly on the severity of your injuries, contacting a lawyer now will help you get your money faster. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana to see if you have grounds for a lawsuit.