It can be difficult to accomplish much in the aftermath of a serious accident and injury. But, acting quickly when it comes to filing your legal claim can save you time, heartache, and possibly money. Here’s why:
- After two years, you no longer can legally file a claim. Under California law, you have only two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim. After two years, even if you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your injury was the result of negligence, you cannot seek compensation under the law.
- Evidence & witnesses will disappear. Over time, witnesses may be difficult to locate or unable to accurately remember details of an accident. Likewise, businesses and officials may lose or destroy important evidence related to your case. The best time to build your case is immediately after the accident, when an attorney can help you determine what information you should collect, and when the event is fresh in everyone’s memories.
- You will receive your compensation sooner. After an accident, you may be faced with mounting medical bills and other expenses. Your vehicle may have been irreparably damaged. You also may miss days, weeks, or months of work. Even if you eventually do receive compensation for your accident, you may be faced with many months of financial hardship. The sooner you resolve your personal injury claim, the sooner you can pay for the costs associated with your accident.
- You can put the accident and injury behind you. We are always surprised when we hear some people don’t want to file a personal injury claim because they “just want to put the accident behind them.” We believe the best way to get over the trauma of an accident is to quickly and efficiently tackle your claim, get you the compensation you deserve, and return your life to normal. The sooner you act after an accident, the sooner you can close the book on it.
On the other hand, there aren’t many upsides to waiting to speak with a lawyer and file your claim. Even if you aren’t sure whether you have a valid claim, one of our Orange County accident lawyers can help you learn more. Call Russell & Lazarus today at 851-855-2400 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an attorney.