Don’t Wait: Quick Action After an Accident Can Make or Break a Personal Injury Case

When you're in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s likely that you’re not thinking about a personal injury case and protecting your rights.  When these things happen to us, we’re thinking about injuries and recovery, the damage to our vehicle, and how these few horrible seconds will affect the next weeks, months, or even years of our lives.  It can be completely overwhelming to have to consider speaking with the other drivers, witnesses, the police, medical personnel, and insurance companies.  As you go forward, medical appointments, missed work, car repairs, and trying to return to normal can completely dominate your life and attention.  It’s easy to delay reaching out to a lawyer as you’re going through this, but the purpose of this blog is explain why it’s so important to speak with trustworthy counsel quickly after you’ve been in an accident.

Virginia’s Statute of Limitations

Virginia law gives you two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That may seem like plenty of time, but it passes quickly—especially when you’re focused on healing. If you miss this deadline, known as the statute of limitations, you will have no right to pursue your claim.  This would leave you with no recourse, even if the evidence showing someone else caused your injuries is substantial.

This strict timeline is one of the most important reasons to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident. An experienced lawyer will help you gather evidence, assess your damages, and ensure your claim is filed or resolved before time runs out.

Insurance Companies and Adjusters Are Not Looking Out For Your Interests

After an accident, insurance adjusters may call you early—sometimes within days. They may seem friendly or helpful, but it’s important to remember that their goal is to protect the insurance company’s bottom line, not your recovery. They may ask for recorded statements, offer a quick (and often lowball) settlement under the guise of helping you through a difficult time, or subtly discourage you from getting legal advice or more medical treatment.

When you have an attorney on your side from the beginning, you shift the balance of power. Your lawyer handles all communications with the insurance company and makes sure you aren’t pressured into certain courses of action or accepting too little money too soon. You should never discuss money with an adjuster before you have completed all medical treatment on your path to recovery.

Preserve Your Rights and Your Evidence

Early legal representation also helps preserve key evidence that may be crucial to your claim—witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, and accident reports can all disappear or become harder to obtain with time. A lawyer will act quickly to secure and document what you need to build a strong case.

Don’t delay and potentially harm your ability to attain justice.  If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, set up an appointment with a highly recommended attorney to learn your options.  At Wakefield Law, we offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there’s no risk to setting up a phone call or appointment, and if you hire our firm you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Protect your rights, preserve your case, and let us help you navigate this challenging time.  Give us a call to learn more!  703.771.9740