blog home Car Accidents How long can I “wait and see” after I’m injured in a wreck before calling a lawyer?

How long can I “wait and see” after I’m injured in a wreck before calling a lawyer?

By Ken Gibson on March 26, 2015

It depends. Virginia has a statute of limitations that gives you a certain amount of time to file personal injury claims after you’ve been injured, depending on the facts. The problem is, most people don’t know how long they have to file after their specific case. Others figure they can just wait until right before the deadline. That can be a terrible mistake.

Here’s why: Let’s say another driver rear-ends you while you are at a red light and leaves your child, who was sitting in the back seat, with a brain injury. As your child lingers in a coma, you and the rest of your family wait by his hospital bed hoping for the best.

Meanwhile, medical bills are piling up, memories of the accident are fading, evidence can be compromised, and the statute of limitations is ticking away. If you wait too long to file an injury claim, a jury may wonder why, which can influence the amount of damages they’re willing to award you.

Dealing with a terrible injury to a loved one is a terrible time for any family, but someone should begin the process of contacting an experienced auto accident attorney to recover damages.

When you’re in the midst of dealing with a serious injury, there’s no way to adequately predict the length of treatment and medical costs that will be needed. The sooner you connect with a personal injury attorney, the better chance you have to recover damages. Waiting too long to file may result in your settlement being reduced or denied.

If you or a loved one has been hurt, call GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys for help at (804) 413-6777.

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Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.

  • Safety Education
    GibsonSingleton launches a “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers.
  • Annual Coat Drive
    During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community.
  • Hands-on Service
    John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community.
  • Supporting Local Schools
    The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.