What You Risk When You Wait to Call a Lawyer after a Crash

by Michael D. Ponce

Last Updated July 14, 2021 In Car Accident

After an auto accident, it’s hard to do anything except focus on your physical recovery. But your financial recovery may depend on getting the ball rolling on a personal injury claim ASAP. Although you have one calendar year to file your claim, there are a few things to know about before you decide to put off pursuing compensation until you’ve recovered or to a more convenient time.

• One year passes quickly—Tennessee is one of just a few states with a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Other states know that most victims need at least two full years after their injuries to get their affairs in order and pursue compensation, but Tennessee requires taking almost immediate action.
• Evidence disappears—Some of the most important evidence for auto accident claims include accident scene debris and camera footage, whether it’s dashcam footage, intersection footage, highway camera footage, or surveillance camera footage. All of this evidence can be deleted or become unavailable in a matter of days or weeks after a crash.
• Insurance companies become more skeptical—The longer the timeframe between your accident and your injury claim, the more skeptically the insurance company will view it. It’s common for insurers to believe that victims weren’t actually hurt in their crashes but were injured at a later date and are using their crashes to get money for those injuries.

Don’t put off your claim or your chance of getting maximum compensation. Contact the Nashville auto accident lawyers at Ponce Law right away after a crash to get the money you deserve.