That’s a question of some dispute among lawyers. There are some who think you should be calling your attorney from the accident scene. I usually recommend that you contact an attorney within a few days, but doing so from the scene of the accident is not appropriate.
I think that the best practice is to make sure you are safe and that you are in a place where you are receiving proper care. Only after you have been taken care of should you think about whether or not to call the lawyer.
With that said, you only have a limited time to file your case, so do not wait too long.
How soon after my car accident injury should I file my lawsuit?
Most car accident cases have a 3-year statute of limitations. There are exceptions to that, however. For example, if the car accident involves a municipal city, county or state vehicle, you have to file notices within 128 days, and there are other exceptions.
This is one of the reasons why it’s really important to talk to a lawyer early. We can do a lot of work at the beginning of a case that will set you up long-term to have the strongest case you can.
Securing Evidence: 9-1-1 Tapes
In Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, 9-1-1 tapes are destroyed within 90 days. As your attorney, we can obtain 9-1-1 recordings from the scene of the accident before they are deleted. 9-1-1 tapes are incredible sources of information.
If you haven’t requested these tapes in 90 days, they’re gone forever, and this is where a lawyer like us can immediately do our Freedom of Information Act request. When we get them, they are frequently a treasure trove of information.
