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What You Need to Know About Deadlines to Report a Car Accident to Your California Insurance Company

If you are involved in a car accident in California, do you have an unlimited number of days to report your accident to your insurance company? Of course not. It would be strange if you could report an accident ten years after it happened and expect to be reimbursed for damages. However, if you wait one week, it would be equally strange for the insurance company to refuse to consider your claim by arguing that you waited too long.

So what is too long to wait? Keep reading to get the facts and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have been injured in a car accident in which someone else was at fault, and you want a free legal consultation.

The Insurer Has Limits on What They Can Require

One thing to keep in mind is that, in most cases, an insurance company is not legally able to set an absolute deadline on when you should file your claim. That said, it is generally to your advantage to report the case as soon as you can. The sooner you do, the sooner the adjuster and investigator can get to work, and the sooner your claim could be settled. Likewise, the sooner the case is investigated, the more evidence is likely to remain.

Limits on Filing a Personal Injury Claim

It is important to be aware of limits to when you can file a personal injury claim in California. If the state was involved and will be a defendant, then you have just six months to file. In most other accidents, you will have two years to file a personal injury claim. That might sound like a lot of time, but the truth is that there are many steps that come before actually filing the claim and the sooner you get the process started, the sooner it is likely to end.

Evidence Can Disappear Over Time

Another reason that it is worth filing sooner rather than later, or at last working with a personal injury attorney who can start investigating, is the fact that it is much easier to gather information from witnesses and review evidence. For example, skid marks can be very important to determine how the accident played out, but they do not last forever.

Now is the Time to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

There is no question that now is the time to contact a personal injury attorney. You can reach Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will go over the facts, determine what evidence might be useful, and give you an honest assessment of your case. Call now to get the process started.