If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. While there are many things that can happen after a car accident, having the proper legal representation can help protect your rights and ensure that everything goes smoothly from the beginning stages of the case through court proceedings. By contacting an attorney early on, you will get started on building your defense or understanding what happened in the crash. If you wait too long to call an attorney, chances are good that vital evidence will be lost or may not be available at all due to mandatory reporting laws.