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TIPS FOR GETTING A LAWYER TO TAKE YOUR ACCIDENT CASE

Admin • February 18, 2021

Getting a lawyer to handle your accident case is not difficult. However, lawyers don't sign all the clients that consult with them. Below are some tips to get a lawyer to handle your accident case.

Watch Out for Critical Deadlines

You have to notify the relevant parties after an auto accident. The relevant notifications depend on the type of accident, defendant, and intentions. For example, you must notify the police and your insurance carrier after an accident. You must also notify the liable party if you wish to pursue compensation.

Some notifications have strict deadlines. For example, you have 90 days to file an accident claim against a Missouri government agency or employee. You should file a civil claim within five years, which is the statute of limitations for Missouri injury cases.

Do everything within its deadline so that you don weaken your case. Otherwise, lawyers might be reluctant to take your case due to low chances of recovery.

Note that some exceptional circumstances can extend the statute of limitations. Thus, never assume that you are time-barred from filing a case. Consult a lawyer and let them decide.

Mitigate Damages

Accident victims have a duty to mitigate their damages. Damage mitigation measures include:

Getting prompt medical care
Following doctors' instructions
Getting back to work as soon as possible
Securing and protecting damaged items, such as vehicles

Take such measures so that the liable party doesn't accuse you of aggravating your damages. That way, your prospective lawyer will see that your damages directly stem from the defendant's actions.

Be Honest

You should also be honest with the parties you will be dealing with. For example, you should be honest with:

Your treating physician
The independent medical examiner (IME)
Your injury lawyer
Your insurance company

You don't have to volunteer information to those who don't need it or those who might harm your case. However, if you answer a question or volunteer information, ensure it is nothing but the truth.

You should especially be honest with your lawyer. In fact, you should volunteer all the facts of the accident to your lawyer. Your lawyer needs the information to strengthen your case and anticipate potential defenses from the opposing side. Your honesty also strengthens your credibility, especially if your case proceeds to court.

Consult the Right Lawyer

Lawyers specialize in different areas of law. For example, some lawyers only handle family law cases (things like divorce), others deal with business issues, and others handle immigration matters. A personal injury lawyer is the right person to handle your accident claim. Other lawyers might turn down your case or refer you to their colleagues who can handle your case.

Preserve Evidence

Lawyers are interested in cases they can win. No lawyer wants to waste your or their time with an impossible-to-win case. Your evidence's strength determines how likely you are to win and recover accident damages. The evidence depends on the nature of your case. Examples of evidence in an auto accident include:

Pictures and surveillance videos of the accident
Police report
Your medical history
Accident investigation reports

The evidence might get stale or disappear with time, thereby weakening your case. Move fast after the accident to secure and preserve various forms of evidence.

Manage Your Expectations

Your accident lawyer will evaluate your case and advise you on how to proceed. Although injury cases can be unpredictable, an experienced lawyer can get a good estimate of a case's worth. Even if you don't agree with the lawyer's assessment, your expectations should fall within a reasonable range of the lawyer's assessment.

Spooner & Perkins P.C., Attorneys at Law, have decades of experience in injury law. Contact us for a free consultation to review your case.

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