After an accident, your first focus should always be seeking medical attention to avoid further complications to your body. The recovery process can be the most frustrating and demanding journey, but you need to feel better and get back on your feet. In the recovery process, it is crucial to seek legal guidance from a car accident lawyer for advice on the way forward.
It is essential to know that you have the right to file an injury claim and get compensation for the damages caused due to negligence. It would be best if you consider immediate filing of the injury case after the accident to avoid adverse outcomes. You need to take quick steps because the countdown starts after the accident.
Here are the reasons why you shouldn’t wait too long to file your injury claim:
Avoid Problems with Your insurance
Every insurance company has policies concerning the time when you should file your injury case. You will need to follow the time limitation and guidelines on your auto insurance policy. Whether it is your first claim or not, following the stipulated time guidelines is a crucial factor.
Taking too long to file your claim will appear as a red flag on your applications, and it is likely to be examined by the claim adjuster. It may be a long process because the insurance needs to verify the accident’s circumstances to ensure that the claim is genuine.
Waiting Can Harm Your Injury Case
You may fail to file claims immediately after the accident, thinking that there were no severe injuries. Maybe, you got a few bruises on the face and a small scratch on your hand, which you were able to handle treating yourself.
However, the pain may become unbearable after weeks or months, making you rush to file a claim. You may lack sufficient evidence due to a lack of adequate and timely treatment. Maybe, you misplaced the initial medication receipts, making it difficult to get concrete evidence to substantiate your claim. It can cause you to miss out on medical compensation from your insurer.
Late Filing Penalties
There are statutes of limitations and laws which require you to file your case on time, and lateness leads to harsh penalties. It is crucial to understand the policies governing filing injury claims to avoid subsequent penalties for late filing. The statute guidelines change based on your state’s legal requirements.
Also, there are exceptions and limitations applied to particular circumstances about filing. The process is complicated and hard to understand, and that is why you need to seek legal services from a car accident lawyer to guide you through the process and avoid late filing.
Avoid Rejections and Regrets
In case you get into a car accident while at work, you will need to get workers compensation. Meaning, you need to inform your insurer immediately after the accident occurs. Your insurance can reject your request for an extended time between the accident and the time you file the claim. This is because they may find it challenging to ascertain if the accident occurred while on duty or during your activities.
Waiting too long minimizes your chances of getting compensated for work injuries. If you have a mental illness, it will prove even more difficult to file for claims if you do not do it within the expected timeframe because you may not be able to determine that your work is responsible for the injury. In the case of rejection, you can appeal. The appeal process takes longer, and you need to get a lawyer to make the process easy.
Get Legal Representation
If you get rejected for the late filing of your case, consider hiring a car accident lawyer who has adequate knowledge and legal expertise. The lawyer can take you through the steps with ease.
