How Long Should You Wait to File Suit After Your Atlanta Car Accident?

Most of us will be involved in a car accident at some point in our lives. Usually, this only involves a minor fender-bender. Thankfully, most people will never have to file suit against somebody after they get into a crash. If this is the situation you find yourself in, it can be confusing. One of the hardest things to figure out is when you’re supposed to file your car accident lawsuit. The good news is that your Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you figure this out.

Ideally, you won’t need to file suit at all. Unfortunately, if the insurance company refuses to negotiate, you won’t have much choice. If you have medical bills piling up, you need to take some sort of action. This is when you know it’s time to call a local attorney and turn things over to them.

You Do Need to File Before the Statutes of Limitations Period Expires

In Atlanta, Georgia, you only have two (2) years to file suit against the other party. The two years start on the date of your car accident. If you miss this statute of limitations deadline, your case will be dismissed. Rather than risk having this happen, you’ll want to meet with an Atlanta car accident lawyer early on.

They’ll need ample time to prepare your case and gather the evidence they need to prove fault. It’s almost as if you’re between a rock and a hard place. Wait too long and you miss your filing deadline. File too soon and you may miss out on thousands of dollars in damages. Thankfully, your attorney has years of experience handling these matters. They’ll make sure your claim is filed on time and handled properly from the start.

You Don’t Want to File Suit Until You Know the Extent of Your Injuries

If you file too early, you won’t know the true extent of your damages. For example, imagine that you’re involved in a head-on collision. You have surgery right away, but your doctor says you may need additional surgery in the future. They must wait at least six (6) months to see if you’ve healed properly. You’re also going to need physical therapy. There’s no way to know what your damages are if you don’t even know if you need further medical care.

It’s a good idea to wait until you know just how bad your injuries are. Your Atlanta car accident lawyer can talk to your doctors and find out what they think. If they believe you’ll need future medical care, you’ll have two options. You can wait and hope you don’t run out of time to file suit. Or you can get a doctor’s expert opinion about how much it will cost to get your medical issues taken care of.

Take Time to Try to Settle the Claim with the Insurance Company

Before you even think about filing a lawsuit, you should consider settling your outstanding claim. Once your Atlanta car accident lawyer finds out why your claim was denied, they can work on trying to get it settled. They’ll reach out to the insurance adjuster and see what they can do. Ideally, you’ll be able to come to an agreement that works for you. If for some reason, this isn’t possible, then you will need to consider taking legal action.

Meet with an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer

If you or your loved one are hurt in a car accident, you may not know what to do. Most of us have never had to deal with something like this. Of course, you realize you need to file a claim against the insurance company. However, if your claim is denied, you may need to take further action. That’s when it’s time to call and talk to an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer.

Your attorney can go over your options during your free, initial consultation. They may be able to talk to the insurance adjustor and settle your outstanding claim. If that isn’t possible, then a lawsuit is a very real possibility. However, you don’t want to file too early, and you don’t want to file too late. It’s a matter of timing.

The good news is that your Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you figure out what works best for you. All you have to do is call and schedule your free consultation today. The initial meeting is free and you don’t have to pay a dime until your case is resolved.