As personal injury cases continue to increase in New Mexico, so does the complexity of handling them. While many people think that every time they suffer an injury, they will be compensated, that is not always the case. To be compensated for a personal injury, it must have been caused by the negligence or deliberate act of another person.
While there are several aspects of personal injury that many struggle to understand, one key question is: When is the right time to contact a lawyer? A direct answer to this will be that you should immediately contact a lawyer after the incident. However, there are several other instances where contacting a personal injury attorney is the appropriate option. In this article, we discuss some of the key moments when you may likely need to speak to an attorney.
When the Time Within Which to Bring the Case Is Elapsing
Every personal injury case is time-bound, meaning there is a time limit within which you are expected to make a case. Failure to institute your case within this time limit will cause it to be barred by the statute of limitation. “Not everyone will immediately think of contacting a lawyer after being involved in an accident or suffering from a negligent act,” says personal injury attorney John Duran of New Mexico Accident Firm, LLC. You may be caught up in the shock of the moment or decide to focus more on your recovery.
However, if you are interested in bringing a case and you are worried about the statute of limitations, this might be a good time to contact a personal injury attorney. With this, they can immediately swing into action and get your case started before it gets barred by the statute of limitations.
When You Need to Preserve Evidence
Evidence preservation is an integral part of a successful personal injury claim. When not preserved, pieces of evidence tend to fade with time. Some witnesses may also not recollect as much about the event with every passing day. If you are unsure about bringing a claim but want evidence stored so it can be used when you need it, then you need to speak to a personal injury attorney.
Attorneys understand the importance of evidence to your case, and they work to not only investigate and get these pieces of evidence but also to preserve them. They can always document pictures and videos at their disposal for use at a later time. They can also have written statements of witnesses taken down and stored so they can be used in court if you eventually want to go to trial.
When You Are Unsure About Liability
In some personal injury cases, it is easy to identify the liable party and hold them responsible for their actions. Surprisingly, this is not always the case, especially in more complex cases involving several parties. No one wants to take responsibility because they do not want to be held liable and made to pay compensation. So, you may find them shifting the blame to someone else, and that may be you.
In this case, it is ideal for you to speak to a personal injury attorney with experience in that area if you are unsure whether you are liable or not. They can carefully analyze the case based on the information available to them and advise you accordingly.
When You Want to Estimate Compensation Amount
The goal of compensation for personal injury cases is to restore you to the state you were in before the incident. However, this is not always as easy as it sounds because what amounts to good compensation is relative. When you contact an attorney, they can review the injuries suffered, the immediate and long-term impact, medical costs, and other non-economic costs. After doing this, they can provide you with an estimate of what your case is worth as compensation.
Conclusion
Personal injury cases are time-sensitive, and the earlier you get started, the better. This is why the right time to contact a personal injury attorney is immediately after the accident. This is important because third parties, like insurance companies, are always looking to capitalize on delays. Also, to prevent your case from being statute barred, to preserve evidence, and to estimate compensation cost, you may need to speak with a personal injury attorney.
Also Read: Top Legal Strategies Used by Tennessee Personal Injury Attorneys
