CCS on The Groove: Is there a time limit to obtain attorney help following an accident?

November 12, 2014 | Article by Chain | Cohn | Clark staff | News & Media , Tips & Information

CCS on The Groove: Is there a time limit to obtain attorney help following an accident?

“If I’m injured in an auto accident, and maybe at that time I don’t think I’m hurt, how long do I have to obtain some legal advice or an attorney like yourself?”

That’s the questioned posed by DJ Sheri Ortiz recently on The Groove 99.3 to accident attorney Marshall Frasher, associate with the Bakersfield personal injury law firm Chain | Cohn | Clark.

Frasher appeared on the Buckley Radio station show to give advice to listeners on what they should do if they’re ever involved in a car accident.

“What we generally recommend is for people to contact our office as soon as they can after an accident,” Frasher said. “It’s pretty important.”

You can listen to the full segment here:

The reason for contacting an attorney quickly, Frasher shared with listeners, is to make sure the person who is injured knows what their rights are with regards to contacting the an insurance company and making sure they know what to do or what to say in those situations.

Many times, accident victims go to the hospital for treatment, and once they are released they have to handle potential property damage claims. This involved speaking with insurance companies and adjusters — conversations that can be vital to potential cases, Frasher said. Sometimes, accident victims can hurt their cases depending on what they say to adjusters.

“It’s very important that people understand what their rights are before they start talking to a claims adjuster,” Frasher said. “It’s always good to know what your options are, and to know that there is help available to you at an early junction in the case so that you can get a good recovery.”

As stated in the Chain | Cohn | Clark website dedicated to assisting victims, automobile accident victims may be entitled to compensation from the negligent party’s insurance company and/or by your own insurance company if the negligent driver was uninsured or underinsured. It’s important to take the following three steps if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident:

  • Obtain the name, address, insurance information, vehicle identification number and driver’s license number of any and all people involved in the accident, as well as all witnesses.
  • Make sure that a report is filed with the law enforcement officers, but do not talk to anyone else (especially insurance adjusters) about the accident or sign anything without first consulting an attorney.
  • Seek medical attention immediately and explain to your physician or surgeon all of the symptoms and complaints you have been feeling since the accident occurred.

If you are involved in an accident, contact the accident attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark at 661-323-4000, or visit the website Chainlaw.com. For help related to car accidents specifically, go here.

To listen to more tips and advice by lawyers on The Groove, go here.