Getting started with a head-on collision claim may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you first hire the right lawyer, you will save time, energy, and frustration. A lawyer can help you from start to finish, including the following steps: Gathering Evidence Typically, your first step will be to gather evidence. Evidence is essential to prove negligence by the at-fault party. Some evidence is easy to come by, but other records might be challenging to access. An attorney can help you gather critical documents such as the police officer’s crash report and phone records. Calculating Your Losses After an accident, you often incur significant medical bills and miss paychecks while recovering. These losses are easy to quantify. However, other losses, such as the extent of your pain and suffering, are harder to calculate. An experienced head-on collision attorney can help you determine and document the full extent of your losses, including those less tangible non-economic losses. Filing an Injury Claim Your attorney can file your claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer, saving you from the hassle of dealing with aggressive, unsympathetic insurance agents. Once your attorney files the claim, they can negotiate with the insurer to seek a fair settlement that accounts for your current and future losses. If the insurance company returns with a lowball settlement offer or refuses to negotiate in good faith, your lawyer might recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit to seek damages in court. Filing a Lawsuit Before the Statute of Limitations Expires Under California law, accident victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent driver. That means you must act quickly to pursue compensation through a head-on collision claim and protect your right to file a lawsuit if necessary. If you wait too long, the insurance company will have little incentive to adequately compensate you when they know your window of opportunity to file a lawsuit is rapidly closing. If the responsible entity is a government agency, California law states you only have six months to file suit.