When Should You Call a Lawyer After a Personal Injury?

If you've been in a serious accident where you experienced a personal injury, like a car crash or a slip and fall accident, you may be wondering about whether or not to contact an attorney. The good news is, with many personal injury lawyers, you can explain what happened and get a free consultation with no obligation to work with the attorney. This allows you to get to know many lawyers before deciding on the one you want to work with.

In general, the following are signs that you may be entitled to compensation for your case – in some cases, much more than an insurance company is willing to offer you.

• The other party's negligence caused your injury
• The injury was serious enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, hospital or multiple doctor's visits
• The injury resulted in expensive medical bills, time missed off work or a permanent disability
• There is evidence and/or testimony that can demonstrate the fault of another party

If just one of these situations is present, you may have a personal injury case on your hands. What you may not know is that the statute of limitations in Alabama and in states throughout the country mandates the time period in which a victim can file a personal injury claim. Here's what you should know.

What Is the Statute of Limitations in Alabama?

The statute of limitations in Alabama is a law that stipulates that victims of personal injury or the loved ones of victims who have died due to negligence have a specific amount of time in which to file a claim. The statute of limitations is in place so that offending parties do not have a legal issue that they may have to deal with for the rest of their lives, and so that victims start the legal process to gain compensation in a timely manner.

In Alabama, the statute of limitations for personal injury is two years. This is according to Alabama Code Section 6-2-38, which also states that commencement of actions must be brought within two years for negligence causing death, as well as actions of libel, slander, recovery of wages and property damage.

This means, if more than two years have passed since the date of an accident causing an injury, you will not be able to file a claim for damages for your injury. There are some cases, such as those involving medical malpractice that result in injuries long after the damaging actions were done, where a plaintiff may seek to extend the statute of limitations in accordance with the time the injury was discovered.

Benefits of Calling a Lawyer Quickly After an Accident

In addition to taking advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation, there are many advantages to contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a serious accident. These include:

A Lawyer Can Help with an Inaccurate Police Report

If the police report of your accident is inaccurate, including if it puts you at fault for the accident when you were solely the victim, contacting an attorney means you can get a head start on rectifying the falsehoods.

An Attorney Can Protect Your Rights with Insurance Companies

The offending party's insurance company will likely contact you quickly after the accident, and may pressure you into saying something you don't want to or shouldn't. A lawyer can prepare you for this. Also, often insurance companies will settle for far less than the victim deserves, or not offer a settlement at all. When you have significant medical bills or are missing time off work because of an injury, getting a case started with a lawyer can help you get compensated more quickly.

Working with a Lawyer Prepares You for Dealing with the Other Party

Depending on the other party that caused the accident, you may be facing a business with a full team of lawyers, or even a government entity with the funds to fight you. Victims can be pressured into giving away information or providing inaccurate information that helps the other party, or be bullied into taking a low settlement. Knowing what your case is worth increases your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

When you can work with a personal injury lawyer that works on a contingency basis, like the team at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, you have the peace of mind that the attorney is working in your best interests, since they don't get paid unless you do. If you've been in a serious accident and experienced an injury, don't delay. Contact the personal injury team at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann today for a free consultation.