The best time to hire a Greenville car accident lawyer is right after the crash, but if you haven’t yet, the next best time is now. While you don’t need an attorney to get a settlement, having one can help you secure full compensation and protect you from unfair blame. You can hire a lawyer at any point before signing a settlement, but once you agree to an offer, you can’t seek additional money.
Acting quickly ensures you get strong legal support and maximize your claim. Keep reading to learn more, then call (864) 343-2222 to schedule a consultation.
Your lawyer can guide you through filing your insurance claims
Whether or not you plan to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you must notify your auto insurance carrier of the wreck or risk invalidating your policy. Your insurance company may cover the cost of fixing your car while your claim with the other party is being processed (so you don’t have to wait to get your car fixed), then pursue its own legal action against the other driver to recoup the expense.
Once you have an attorney, they act as the primary point of contact with the other party in the claim, including the other driver’s insurance carrier. You can comfortably refer all communications from the other party to your lawyer, so you don’t have to worry about whether your words will be twisted into an admission of fault.
Your lawyer can start building a case while the evidence is fresh
There’s a good chance the other party will contest your car accident claim. Getting a good settlement (or any settlement at all) depends on proving that the other driver contributed the majority of the fault to the wreck.
This means building an evidence-based case using the fine points of South Carolina car accident laws. The sooner you hire a lawyer, the sooner they can build a case. It’s easier when witness memories are fresh and physical evidence (like damage to both vehicles or guardrails) is still present to be examined.
If the other party isn’t cooperative, then your lawyer may have to file a lawsuit and subpoena evidence, like data from their vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (a “black box” that logs the car’s actions and movements) or cellphone data. If this happens, building the case can take longer, as your attorney will have to file motions with the court. The quicker you hire your lawyer, the quicker they can get to work for you.
Your lawyer helps ensure vital deadlines are met
There may be multiple deadlines that you must meet to pursue your compensation claim. Your lawyer can ensure that your case isn’t dismissed because you missed deadlines for the court and that your claim is filed before the South Carolina statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim (three years) runs out.
If you were involved in a car accident you didn’t cause, you may be eligible for a large settlement. However, you must act quickly. To begin, call Smith Jordan Law at (864) 343-2222 for a free legal consultation.
