How Long Should You Be Sore After a Car Accident
Long-term Pain After a Car Accident
After a car accident injury, a victim should always focus on physical recovery. Unexpected injuries can significantly damage an accident victim’s quality of life. Unfortunately, victims who suffer serious injuries may never be able to enjoy the lifestyle they were accustomed to before the accident. When injuries are severe, victims often have to cope with the limitations of their new reality.
Experienced car accident lawyers regularly fight for the rights of injured victims to seek the compensation they are entitled to. While financial compensation cannot reverse the impacts of a victim’s injuries, it may help them to adapt to their disabilities and increase their quality of life. An attorney who has resolved many personal injury claims can help injured victims maximize their recovery.
Personal injury claims are appropriate in a variety of circumstances. However, not every attorney will have the specific experience necessary to ensure your claim is successful. Some types of personal injury claims are inherently more complex than others. Be sure to retain an attorney with the distinct knowledge and resources to match the individual circumstances of your case.
Car Accident Injuries
In Texas, on average, one car accident happens every 58 seconds. While not every car accident causes serious injury, in 2018, nearly 15,000 people sustained serious injuries in car accidents. Common car accident injuries include:
- Burns
- Cuts
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation
Depending on the gravity of your car accident, your injuries could range from minor to severe. Despite the severity of your injury, almost all will cause victims to incur at least some medical bills.
Types of accidents that frequently cause injury include:
- Side impacts
- Head-on collisions
- Rear end collisions
- Sideswipes
Regardless of the type of car accident, if you sustained injuries, you should consider discussing your options with an experienced attorney. When someone’s reckless or negligent behavior results in your injury, you should not bear the burden of medical expenses. The responsible parties should be held accountable.
Life After Injury
Many car accident injuries will allow victims to fully recover and maintain the same quality of life they enjoyed before the accident. Others will impact victims for the rest of their lives. In one year alone. more than 3,500 car accident fatalities took place—just in Texas.
However, those who are fortunate enough to survive a catastrophic accident, often sustain life altering injuries. When injured victims suffer permanent disability, they will have to adapt to a new way of life. The impact of extensive injury will not only affect the victim, but also their family and loved ones. The most severe injuries often cause extreme strain on your family.
When victims and their families are forced to cope with the physical and emotional repercussions of serious injuries, medical expenses can be overwhelming. Experienced car accident attorneys regularly fight for the rights of injured victims to seek the compensation they are entitled to.
Depending on the unique circumstances of the case, injured victims may be entitled to seek compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Lost earning potential
If you did not cause your injuries, you should hold the responsible party liable for the injuries they caused. When your injuries are severe, you may require long hospital stays, multiple surgeries, many doctor visits, rehabilitation in a facility, and in-home care. On top of your medical needs, you may have to miss extended time from work while you recover. Working with a trusted car accident lawyer in Texas can help relieve some of your worry and stress.
Beware of Insurance Companies’ Quick Settlement Offers
Shortly after your car accident, the insurance company for the at-fault driver may contact you and offer you a quick settlement. Insurance representatives are aware that you are facing significant medical costs and that you are unable to work. Oftentimes, they may try to take advantage of your position by offering you an inadequate settlement in exchange for quick compensation.
Be aware that most settlement agreements require injured victims to waive their right to seek additional compensation for their injuries. Although quick cash may seem enticing, you must cautiously evaluate whether the amount offered will fully cover your expenses.
Nearly two thirds of all bankruptcies in the United States name medical bills as a contributing factor. Initial settlements from insurance companies often will limit their financial responsibility for your claim. It is in the insurance provider’s best interest to settle your claim as quickly as possible. A quick settlement will typically save the company money because the payout is less than the actual value of your claim. However, when a settlement amount undervalues your expenses, you could end up paying significant costs out-of-pocket.
While it is easy to calculate the costs of services you have already incurred, it is much more difficult to anticipate future expenses. When appropriate, we predict future medical needs by evaluating your diagnosis and expected prognosis to estimate the costs of full recovery.
After calculating an injured victim’s predicted future needs, an attorney may begin negotiations with the insurance company. Having an idea of the full extent of medical expenses can help injured victims maximize their compensation. You want to put the trauma of your car accident behind you, and your car accident’s goal is to maximize your compensation so you can focus on your physical recovery. Reducing the financial burden of medical bills and the stress of legal proceedings can help injured victims get back to their regular lives.
While most personal injury cases settle out of court, our team is not afraid to proceed to trial, when necessary. Sometimes insurance companies will refuse to offer an adequate settlement, and taking the case to court may be the best option. Choosing to proceed to trial can delay an injured victim’s receipt of compensation. However, at times, it is necessary to ensure injured victims recover the amount they are entitled to.
Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer Today
When working with the right personal injury lawyer, injured victims increase their chances of making a full and complete recovery. Choose an attorney that you believe has the resources required to competently manage your car accident claim and maximize your financial recovery.
