Car accidents are stressful and scary events. If you were in a car accident and it was caused by the other driver’s negligence, you should be properly compensated. To get fair compensation, you and your car accident lawyer will need to file within the right timeframe. Here’s what you need to know.
Ask a Car Accident Lawyer: How Soon Do I Need to File a Lawsuit?
If you have recently been in a car accident, one of the most important things you need to know is when you should be filing a lawsuit. There are deadlines involved with any kind of court case, and a car accident lawsuit is so exception.
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time you have to file a claim. In Wyoming, you must file your claim if you intend to sue after a car accident within four years. However, bear in mind that the sooner you file, the better it will be for your case.
What Do I Do When I Want to File a Case?
Contact a Lawyer
The first thing you need to do if you are thinking of filing a lawsuit is to get in touch with a palm harbor car accident lawyer. When it comes to any kind of legal issue, having a qualified lawyer on your side is crucial.
Your lawyer has years of training in this field and will know what strategies to implement to help you get the best results from your case. Your lawyer will also be able to answer any questions you might have and offer you important guidance throughout the case.
Gather Evidence
Because you are the plaintiff, the burden of proof falls upon you. It’s your job to prove to the court that you were injured during the accident and that the accident was the result of negligence or carelessness caused by the other party.
You can start gathering evidence as soon as the accident happens and you have checked yourself for injuries. Take pictures of the accident site, and gather the contact information of any witnesses. After the accident, you should get medical records from your doctor that outline the injury and your treatment.
Keep a Pain Journal
One of the pieces of evidence that you should have with you to present to the court is a pain journal. This is a journal where you will document your injury as well as how the healing process is going.
For this to be an effective piece of evidence, you should write in it every day beginning from when you receive the injury. Discuss how the injury feels, what activities it has impeded you from participating in, as well as how it is affecting your mental and emotional health.
File Your Documents on Time
If you want to make sure your case is taken seriously and that you have the best shot at winning a fair settlement, then you need to make sure that all your documents get to the courts on time. If you don’t, you could end up losing the possibility of getting compensation altogether.
It can certainly be hard to keep track of what needs to be filed and when if you are recovering from an injury. This is one of the many areas where your car accident lawyer in Wyoming can help you. They will make sure that all these important documents reach the right places on time.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Companies
The other party’s insurance company may try to get in contact with you after a car accident. While they might seem friendly and concerned, you should bear in mind that the goal of these companies is to pay you as little as possible. They could use your lack of legal knowledge against you to do this.
That’s why you should avoid speaking to these companies altogether. Instead, direct them to speak with your lawyer. Your lawyer will know what to avoid so that you get proper compensation.
Prepare to Go to Court
Ideally, you and the other party will be able to settle outside of court. Taking a case to court is a long, expensive, and stressful process, so it’s likely that everyone involved in the matter will want to avoid it. But in case it becomes inevitable, you should still be prepared to go to court.
This is another instance where your lawyer will be an important asset. They will represent you in court, and they’ll make sure that your rights are respected throughout the process and that you get fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
Car accidents are frightening, and if you were injured in one, that makes it all the more stressful and scary. You should always make sure that you work with a qualified lawyer if you are planning on filing a lawsuit. You can learn more here. Your lawyer will be with you every step of the way.
