How Long After a Car Accident Can You Claim Injury?
Being in a collision can be a traumatic experience. If you were recently injured in a car accident, an attorney in Magna, Utah, can assist you with the claims process – but do you have to handle that now?
While you no doubt want to focus on recovering, injuries cost money. And when someone else’s careless driving caused you to suffer harm, you shouldn’t be left to shoulder the resulting financial burden. To get the money you deserve, though, you’ll need to take action soon. So, how long after a car accident can you claim injury? What is the time limit for pursuing compensation? When should you call a Magna car accident attorney? Below, the legal team at Cockayne Law explains what you need to know.
How the Car Accident Claims Process Works
Before discussing how long after an accident you can claim injury, we need to break down the process for taking legal action. If you jump in without the necessary knowledge, the outcome may not be all that favorable – or worse, your claim for compensation could be denied.
In Utah, injured victims can only file a claim or lawsuit against another party if their financial losses total more than $3,000. Assuming you meet that threshold, the process starts with an investigation of the collision. Demonstrating exactly what happened is the goal here, and the at-fault driver’s insurer will be working with a team of experts. To level the playing field, you may need the skill of an experienced car accident attorney.
After the investigation is complete and the scope of your injuries becomes known, you or your car accident attorney will need to draft a demand letter to the insurance company. This document should detail the facts and circumstances surrounding the collision as well as the costs you have incurred because of the car accident.
At this point, the negotiations begin – and you can expect the insurer’s legal team to put on the pressure. If they know you’re prepared to defend your rights in court, they’ll be more inclined to offer a reasonable settlement. Hire a car accident attorney, and they’ll realize you aren’t going to concede defeat.
Understanding Utah’s Statute of Limitations
Now that we’ve explained how the claims process works, we can answer the initial question – how long after a car accident can you claim injury?
When someone’s careless or negligent actions cause someone else to suffer harm, the injured party has the legal right to seek compensation. But failing to file a claim by the deadline almost always leads to a dismissal, as the statute of limitations is strictly observed in Utah.
For an injury claim, the filing deadline is four years from the date of the accident. The cutoff comes sooner for property and vehicular damage, as you only have three years from the collision date to pursue compensation. And while that sounds like plenty of time, getting the claims process started – or bringing a Magna car accident attorney on board – is a task you’ll want to handle soon.
Why Filing Your Accident Claim Early is Ideal
If you’re a procrastinator, hearing how long you have to claim injury after a collision may make you happy. But if you’d accept advice from an experienced car accident attorney, you’re better off filing your claim within a few weeks of the collision.
Why so early? Frankly, the longer you wait, the more likely it is that your claim for compensation will be denied. Dealing with insurance adjusters every day, we know that given any reason to doubt your veracity, they’ll issue a rejection or, at the very least, give you a lowball offer. File early, and you can ensure your allegations and information are carefully considered.
However, hiring a Magna car accident attorney prior to filing your injury claim would be in your best interests. People often say the wrong things to insurance adjusters and inadvertently undermine their claims, and that’s certainly not what you want to happen. With a lawyer in your corner at the start, you won’t have to worry about making any such mistakes.
What if you only become aware of an injury long after being involved in a collision? Insurance companies know this can occur, but to be safe, it’s still a good idea to file your claim early. By doing so, you’ll be denying them an easy reason to potentially deny your right to compensation – and if need be, your car accident attorney can work with your medical providers to ensure that the adjusters involved get new information about your injuries as it becomes evident.
Schedule a Free Consultation at Cockayne Law
At Cockayne Law, we specialize in injury claims arising from motor vehicle accidents. Our legal team, led by Chris Cockayne, has years of experience representing clients in Magna, Utah – and we have an excellent track record, securing settlements that go beyond favorable. What’s more, there are no downsides to calling on us, as we only charge legal fees when we win.
To learn how we can help with your injury claim, contact our northern Utah law office and schedule a free, no-obligation car accident attorney consultation today.
