Is It Ever Too Late to Call a Lawyer After a Car Crash in Maryland?

Some car crash victims call a lawyer right after the accident. Others may wait a few days or weeks to contact a lawyer. Unfortunately, there are also some crash victims who wait until the insurance company denies their claim.

It is possible to wait too long to call a lawyer after being involved in a car crash. It is important to remember that to build a strong case, lawyers need time to investigate and gather evidence. If a lawyer does not think he or she has enough time to build a case, he or she may be unable to help.

Below, we discuss when it could be too late to call a lawyer after a Maryland auto accident. If you were injured in a crash, our Maryland car accident lawyers are ready to assist you.

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When Might a Lawyer Be Unable To Help You?

Every case is different, but once the statute of limitations passes, you are likely out of legal options. A statute of limitations sets a deadline for a certain type of legal action. Once the deadline passes, you lose the right to pursue that type of legal action over the incident in question.

In Maryland, there is a three-year statute of limitations for car accident cases. That means you have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If you try to file a lawsuit after those three years and the statute of limitations has passed, the other party can file a motion to have the case dismissed.

Most people will not wait or delay more than three years from the date of the crash to call a lawyer. However, even waiting a few weeks to a few months could create problems for your case. The closer you get to that deadline, the less likely it is a lawyer will be able to help. This is because lawyers need time to build a case, and they do not want to take a case unless they think there is a good chance they can win.

Another factor to consider is that evidence can get lost as more time passes. If you wait more than a few days to call a lawyer, the crash scene is likely to be cleaned up and forever altered. As weeks or months go by, it can become much harder to investigate the collision.

Benefits of Calling a Lawyer

Waiting to call a lawyer can make it much harder for him or her to be able to help you. Calling a lawyer right away, instead of days or weeks after a crash also benefits you.

For instance, maybe you are unsure if you have a case and are worried about paying for a consultation only to find out your case has no merit. Perhaps the liable insurance company offered you an early offer to settle and you want to know if it is a fair amount. These are all questions you can ask in your initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer at no cost to you.

When you initially call a lawyer, he or she will need to review the details of your situation to determine if you have a case. However, since the initial case review is completely free, you can also have that lawyer determine if the insurance company is offering you fair compensation for your damages. Unlike the insurance company, a lawyer will be focused on recovering full compensation for your losses, which could include medical costs, property damage, lost wages and more.

One of the most important benefits of calling a lawyer is gaining peace of mind. Crash victims often have many questions and they do not know where to turn for answers. You cannot trust what the insurance company is telling you. Even if you have been through the car accident legal process before, you may be unsure of your rights and the amount of compensation you need. An injury lawyer has the same goal as you – to recover full and fair compensation for your damages.

If the lawyer determines you have a case, you can decide whether to hire him or her. If you choose to move forward, then your lawyer can get to work right away building a case. This means gaining access to the scene to gather and preserve evidence. Your attorney will also want to interview potential witnesses and begin evaluating your damages.

By hiring a lawyer, you do not need to worry about dealing with the insurance company or making mistakes that could hurt your case. Your lawyer can manage everything on your behalf and guide you throughout the legal process. At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, you also do not need to work about paying anything out of pocket as there are no upfront fees with our services.

Calling a lawyer right away may also help you to recover compensation sooner than if you had waited.

What if I am Unsure About Calling a Lawyer?

Many car crash victims are unsure if they need a lawyer. Unfortunately, this concern can cause many people to wait to call or not call at all. This often results in crash victims accepting far less compensation than they need to cover their losses.

A lawyer might be unable to help you. However, by contacting a lawyer you can find out for sure. You do not want to leave the question of whether you need a lawyer unanswered.

Many crash victims who hire lawyers end up receiving more compensation than those who do not. You do not want to leave compensation on the table. If you do receive less compensation because you waited too long to call a lawyer, you might not be able to pay for all the medical care you need.

Call Today To Discuss Your Post-Crash Legal Options

You should never assume a lawyer cannot help you with your car accident claim. You will never know until you ask, and you have nothing to lose.

You may think you can manage the legal process on your own. However, if you have serious injuries and cannot work, it is a mistake to expect the insurance company to take care of you. Their goal is to keep as much of their money as they can, not pay you fair compensation.

At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, our services are provided on contingency, which means no upfront fees.

Call to set up your free initial legal consultation. Phone: 410-297-0271.