Being involved in an accident is traumatic, and at the time it happens it may be difficult for you to process. You need help right after that period is over, and you start to recover and think clearly. The fact is, time is against you once an accident occurs.
Insurance companies and their lawyers are working on your case from day one.
If you wait too long to get proper car accident help, you make your case weaker, allowing insurance companies to take advantage of you.
As you will see in the guide below, timing is crucial if you wish to succeed in your case.
Table of Contents
- Why is timing important in a car accident case?
- California’s statute of limitations
- Fading evidence
- When to get a West Sacramento car accident lawyer?
- Protecting your rights from day one
Why is timing important in a car accident case?
Car accidents are not a rare occurrence in the United States.
Data from NHTSA estimates shows that as many as 39,345 people lost their lives in traffic crashes in 2024. As for nonfatal cases, millions of accidents have occurred over the past year.
Something that most people fail to consider is that the moment the accident happens, the clock starts ticking.
Insurance companies and their legal team have their strategies in place and begin working on your case from day one.
If you do not get an accident attorney in West Sacramento as soon as possible, your case weakens, giving these companies the power and the ability to take advantage of you.
If you need legal help, a West Sacramento car accident lawyer is here to assist you. The sooner you get proper help, the better are your chances of a successful case.
California’s statute of limitations
In any accident case, there are certain rules that need to be followed. In particular, there is something called the statute of limitations.
Missing these deadlines means you will not be able to file a lawsuit.
In California, you have two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Although that may sound like a lot of time, it really is not.
Building an airtight case can take months. Your car accident lawyer needs time to investigate the case, collect evidence, interview witnesses, review medical records, and much more.
If you reach out for help after 22 months, you have given yourself almost no time to build a proper case.
The deadlines are even shorter if a government vehicle is involved.
California’s Government Claims Act provides that in order to sue a public entity (city buses, police cars, etc.), a person must present a claim within six months of the accident.
As you may have guessed, a lot of people are left speechless by such a short deadline.
Fading evidence
It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the longer you wait to file a claim the less evidence you have to support your case.
Physical evidence does not last forever.
- Skid marks on the road will fade away
- Surveillance video gets overwritten
- Damaged vehicles get repaired or sold
- Witnesses will forget important details
The longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult it is for a jury to understand what happened. The memories of the accident witnesses fade. Documents get lost. Photos that could have helped you in your case will never be taken.
This is the main reason why time is so important in your case.
An experienced West Sacramento car accident lawyer knows what evidence to collect and how to preserve it. If you wait too long to file a lawsuit, none of it will happen.
When to get a West Sacramento car accident lawyer?
As you can see, time is not your friend in a car accident case. But when exactly should you reach out to a car accident lawyer for help?
The answer is as soon as possible after you receive medical attention.
Waiting until you have fully recovered or until insurance adjusters fail to offer you a proper settlement is a mistake. By that time you may have already said or done things that could potentially harm your case.
Insurance adjusters are trained to get statements from accident victims as soon as possible after the accident occurs. They know that you are in a very vulnerable position and are more than willing to exploit your confusion. The statements that you make in those conversations can be used against you in the future.
By having an accident attorney represent you from day one, you will be protected from such tactics. You will no longer have to communicate with insurance companies on your own.
When to call a West Sacramento car accident lawyer? Here are some red flags to consider:
- You suffered injuries that required medical attention
- The other driver was clearly at fault
- Insurance companies are pressuring you to settle
- You are missing work due to your injuries
- The accident involved a commercial vehicle or government entity
Your injuries may seem minor at first but even if you did not suffer any visible injuries, it does not mean you are free from them. It may take days or weeks before symptoms appear.
Examples of such conditions are internal injuries, soft tissue injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
Protecting your rights from day one
The best way to protect yourself from unfair insurance practices is simple: Do not go at it alone.
Insurance companies are not on your side. It is their job to pay out as little as possible on every claim. They have vast and very powerful systems that are designed to minimize claims, and maximize their own profits.
You deserve someone fighting for your interests with the same zeal and power.
What will a good car accident attorney do to help you with your case?
- They will thoroughly investigate your accident
- They will document all of your injuries and damages
- They will handle all of the communication with insurance companies
- They will calculate the true value of your claim
- They will fight to give you maximum compensation.
The best part about hiring a car accident lawyer is that they work on a contingency basis. This means that you pay nothing upfront and the lawyer is only paid if you win your case. This takes a financial barrier off a lot of people.
The bottom line
Time is not your friend when you are dealing with an accident. The longer you wait to get proper help, the more difficult it is for you to win your case.
Insurance companies will work on your case from day one. In order to level the playing field, you should hire an accident lawyer as soon as possible.
If you were injured in a car accident, reach out to a qualified car accident lawyer today. The consultation is free, and the peace of mind is priceless.
Your health and your future are at stake, and you should not take any chances.
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