15 Minute Lawyer

LAW Q&A: Question of the Day - Q: I was recently in a car accident. It was just a fender bender but I hurt my neck. Should I contact a lawyer? A: Not every accident should lead to a lawsuit. Honestly, sometimes lawyers just make it worse. They may put you in a situation where you need to seek ongoing treatment to increase your damages and in the long run it may cost you more time and anguish. ... Of course if you are seriously injured or in pain, see a doctor to get a diagnosis. Follow the doctor's lead. If you don't feel better after a reasonable period of time and feel you need to see a lawyer to discuss your options, certainly do so. If the insurance company is not being cooperative or pressuring you, you might also consider seeing a lawyer. Remember, you have up to a year to file a lawsuit for a personal injury matter. While you don't want to wait if you have a legitimate claim, you don't need to rush to the attorney's office the day after an accident.