You were walking when suddenly, you slipped and fell and hurt yourself. Now, you’re not sure what to do or where to turn.
Someone told you that you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer in Woodburn. Learn all about the timing for contacting a lawyer after your injury, as well as what it looks like to work with one.
When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Ideally, you should contact a personal injury lawyer within days of your accident happening. It’s important to get started on your case right away so that there is time to collect evidence and put your claim together. You should also avoid talking to the insurance company until you discuss it with your lawyer.
What’s the Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury?
While the statute of limitations for a personal injury is two years in Oregon, you need to initiate your case much sooner than that for a number of different reasons. First of all, if you wait too long, you might forget key details about what happened. The more details you have, the better.
Additionally, if you wait too long, it might look like your injuries aren’t that serious. The insurance company might use it against you to give you a lower settlement – if they give you anything at all.
Or, if you don’t start your case quickly, you might not get the treatment you need in time. Your injuries could get worse because you hesitated to get the necessary help. And then, your medical expenses could be much higher than you originally anticipated.
Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve never worked with a personal injury lawyer, you might not know what it’s like. First of all, they won’t charge you anything unless they can get you the settlement you deserve. You will know what their fee is upfront, so that when you do get the settlement, you can pay your lawyer as well.
They will help you collect critical proof of your slip and fall injury, as well as use what you have to build your case. Proof can come in the form of photographs, videos, witness statements, footage from nearby cameras, and your medical records. If you didn’t gather any proof when the accident occurred, don’t worry because your lawyer might be able to go back and get some later on.
At this point, what you absolutely need to do is write down everything you remembered about the event. Also, don’t post about your injuries on social media, discuss them with the insurance company, or talk to anyone about them except for your lawyer. You don’t want to do anything that could end up hurting your case and make it much more difficult for you to get a settlement that is rightfully yours.
When you work with a lawyer, they will do the negotiating for you so you can heal from your injuries… which is critical at this time.
Contact Zbinden & Curtis Today
Zbinden & Curtis, a Portland personal injury law firm, cares about accident victims, and we’re ready to help you if you suffered from a slip and fall injury in Woodburn. We fight tooth and nail for our clients to get them the settlement they deserve in their time of need. Contact us today to learn more by calling (503) 287-5000 or contacting us on our website for a free case evaluation. We look forward to assisting you.
