In the hours and days following an accident, evidence can begin to disappear, and insurance companies may already be working to limit what they pay. If you believe you suffered an injury due to someone else's negligence, it’s best to speak with a lawyer as early as possible.
In this blog, we explain when to call a personal injury lawyer and how securing qualified representation can make a meaningful difference in your case.
Insurance adjusters are trained to gather statements, review reports, and look for ways to shift responsibility or minimize the value of a personal injury claim. Reaching out to a lawyer can help you better understand what to say, what to avoid, and how to protect your position from the outset.
Should I Talk to a Lawyer Before Speaking with Insurance Companies?
Yes. It’s strongly recommended to speak with a lawyer before giving a statement or discussing details with an insurance adjuster. Insurance companies begin evaluating claims quickly, sometimes within hours of an accident.
During early conversations, adjusters may ask questions designed to lock in your version of events or identify statements that can be used against you later on. Even casual remarks can be taken out of context. An attorney can help you prepare for these conversations, explain what information is appropriate to share, and step in to handle communication if needed.
Our firm’s strong background in insurance defense makes us uniquely equipped to handle communications with the insurance company and protect your right to fair compensation.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Time-sensitive evidence like traffic cam footage, store surveillance video, and dashcam recordings is often deleted or overwritten within days. Witnesses who initially remember key details may become harder to reach, and their recollections can fade over time.
Waiting too long to involve a personal injury lawyer can make it harder to build a clear and complete picture of what happened. Acting sooner rather than later can help keep critical information from being lost. An attorney can take early steps to preserve this evidence, including sending a spoliation letter that formally requests its retention.
Can I Hire a Lawyer After Starting a Personal Injury Claim?
Yes. Many people choose to hire a lawyer after they have already begun dealing with an insurance company.
If you have started a claim on your own, you may be facing ongoing delays, unclear answers, or settlement discussions that don’t reflect the full scope of your situation. A lawyer can review what has already been done, handle further communication with the insurer, and help guide the case moving forward to prevent you from settling for less than you deserve.
How Insurance Adjusters Weaponize Missouri’s Comparative Fault Law
Missouri operates under a pure comparative fault system, meaning your final compensation can be reduced by your own percentage of fault in the accident. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters often weaponize this law to protect their bottom line.
For example, even if the at-fault party clearly caused a car crash by running a red light, the adjuster might argue that you were distracted, speeding, or didn’t brake fast enough. Their goal is to place as much blame on you as possible, because it instantly slashes your payout by that same percentage.
Even a small shift in fault can significantly reduce what an insurer pays. Understanding how this rule is applied and how fault is evaluated plays a crucial role in how a case is handled. Having an experienced personal injury attorney is essential to fighting back against these unfair tactics and recovering the settlement you deserve.
Advantages of Speaking with a Personal Injury Lawyer
A serious injury can leave victims facing piling medical bills and financial stress. Some important benefits of speaking with a personal injury attorney include:
- Protecting you from aggressive adjusters. Early conversations with insurance representatives are often designed to gather statements that can be used to limit your recovery. We can help you navigate these interactions and avoid common pitfalls.
- Uncovering the true cost of your injury. The true impact of an injury is not always immediate or obvious. We look beyond initial medical bills to account for ongoing treatment, time off work, and how the injury affects your daily life.
- Evaluating early settlement offers. Insurance companies routinely offer unrepresented individuals far less than their case is worth. Initial offers can arrive before the full scope of your injuries is clear. We review these offers in context to identify what may be missing and advise you on whether to accept or reject the settlement.
- Securing vanishing evidence. From drafting spoliation letters to tracking down witnesses, we conduct swift and meticulous case investigations to lock down evidence before surveillance footage is overwritten or memories fade.
- Leveling the playing field. Because we come from an insurance defense background, we know the playbook that insurance companies use, allowing us to anticipate tactics and push back against attempts to undervalue your injuries.
Even if you are unsure about the validity of a potential claim, speaking with our attorneys can provide needed clarity and direction. We offer free case evaluations to guide you toward informed decision-making that supports your health and future.
Put Our Award-Winning Injury Lawyers on Your Side
If you were injured by someone else’s negligence, time is of the essence. Our award-winning injury lawyers are dedicated to pursuing the comprehensive settlement you need to focus on your health and hold the at-fault parties accountable. With over 65 years of collective experience and millions of dollars recovered for clients like you, you can trust our firm to represent your best interests at each stage of the process.
If you were harmed by another’s carelessness, don’t wait to seek justice. Call (314) 309-2301 to schedule a free consultation with our St. Louis attorneys.