If you have recently been injured in an accident, then it’s time to contact a personal injury lawyer San Francisco, CA. Whether it’s a car crash, slip and fall, dog bite, or some other personal injury, you may be entitled to compensation from the person or entity responsible for your injury. But making sure you have the best possible case against the party at fault — and getting the settlement you deserve — can be complicated. That’s where the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer from the Morales Law Firm can make all the difference. Here are five reasons why you should get in touch with one right away.
1) Every Accident is Not Always a Case
Many accidents result in legal liability, but not all of them do. A lot of personal injury law involves determining fault and liability, and if there isn’t any to be found, you don’t need an attorney. To find out whether you need a lawyer, talk to an attorney first before attempting to tackle a case on your own.
2) Not Every Case Can Be Managed by Yourself
Many people attempt to deal with insurance companies and personal injury cases on their own. When you’re injured, it’s tempting to just want to pay your medical bills and move on. However, serious injuries can be very complex. Not only is there an injury case against someone else, but you may have coverage issues with your own insurance company (if you had coverage) or your health insurance company. What happens if medical expenses far exceed what your health insurance will cover? Or what if there’s no health insurance at all? An experienced personal injury lawyer from the Morales Law Firm can help navigate these murky waters for you.
3) Most Cases Are Time Sensitive
Don’t wait until your case is several years old to contact an attorney, even if it seems like you have plenty of time. Typically, there are strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims and navigating through these can be difficult. As such, every month that goes by without contacting an attorney could actually work against you and could lead to a loss of valuable compensation from both parties involved in your accident. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in California is just two years. While it does depend on who is at fault for your accident, it’s best to get started sooner rather than later.
4) Police Report Should Be Filed as Soon as Possible
If you’ve been injured, your main priority should be getting treatment, but you also need to report any and all injuries to your local police department. In most states, including California, if an injury occurs on someone else’s property or as a result of someone else’s negligence, it is required that police officers are called to handle these situations. This gives you time to start organizing necessary legal proceedings immediately after any type of injury has occurred. If an individual reports an injury later than they are supposed to (or doesn’t report at all), it could give their case less value in court. Most attorneys will tell their clients not to get insurance estimates until speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
5) Medical Bills Should Be Paid on Time
If you’re injured in an accident and receive any medical treatment, your bills will likely be paid by your health insurance. Unfortunately, that coverage may not cover everything you’ve received. In other words, after your insurer pays what it considers to be reasonable charges for services and equipment, you are responsible for paying out-of-pocket until your benefits have been exhausted. It’s important to keep track of all medical costs—particularly if they’re piling up quickly—to ensure nothing is left on the table.
If you have been injured in an accident, contact an attorney at the Morales Law Firm for help today.
