As a plaintiff’s lawyer, I am often retained to help injured people and their families long after the harm has occurred. Most people—rightfully—focus on medical care, recovery and grieving. On the defendant’s side, insurance companies know about a serious crash or injury incident almost immediately. They have investigators, experts and lawyers on retainer. Their team usually goes to the scene of the incident. They get photographs, measurements and witness statements. They can instruct their own insured, employees and agents not to make any statements. Over the course of my career, I have been retained very soon after an incident or crash…or many years later. What I have learned: no matter when you are retained, it is critically important to investigate