Serious car accidents can cause serious injuries. The human body has some amazing methods, however, for coping with trauma which can make you feel like you’re barely hurt at all. You may not even be aware of the full extent of your injuries for days, or even weeks, after the accident. The downside is that the longer you wait to seek medical attention, the harder it will be for you to take your injuries seriously. It will also make it harder for the parties responsible for the accident to take your injuries seriously. This can lead to real problems when the medical bills start piling up or, worse, if it’s determined you’re likely to experience long-term pain or disability because of the accident.
The decisions you make right after an accident, and in the days following, have a huge impact on your personal injury claim. It’s natural to feel shocked and thrown off course immediately after a car crash. If you feel fine, then you may also feel incredibly inconvenienced by the ordeal. The last thing many people want to do is sit in a hospital waiting room, do paperwork, and make a bunch of phone calls, especially if they don’t believe they are injured. However, any vehicle accident can be traumatic, even just a fender bender. You can sustain injuries but not feel actual symptoms until later. If too much time passes before you take action, the insurance company may deny your claim.
One of the most common injuries associated with car accidents is whiplash, which occurs when your head is thrust forward on impact, then whips back immediately. Whiplash causes soft tissue damage, which can lead to swelling, pain, and reduced mobility. Whiplash often doesn’t show up right away. In fact, it can take weeks to completely manifest. Whiplash is an important example of why it’s generally a good idea to seek medical treatment after a collision, even if you don’t feel like you need it. If you don’t go to the emergency room, at least pay a visit to your primary care physician within a few days. Not only can this help identify injuries and get started on treatment, it serves the dual purpose of getting the examinations on record. Test results, doctors’ notes, x-rays, MRIs, CAT scans — all of this documentation plays a critical part in a personal injury claim.
After getting a handle on your injuries, it’s time to focus on the claim itself. Let the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company know you plan on pursuing a negligence claim. It’s important that you wait no more than a few days before calling the insurance company, even if you think the accident has already been reported by the other driver. If the wreck is already on file, the case will have a claim number and will have been assigned to a claims adjuster. When the adjuster contacts you, you are not required to give a statement, even if asked for one, because you may say something inadvertently incriminating. Never give a recorded statement or discuss the facts of the collision with any party involved without first talking with a car accident attorney, especially if your injuries are severe.
If you or someone you know has been in a car wreck, or if you have any questions about this topic, you can find out more by discussing it with one of the Kentucky car accident attorneys at the Johnson Law Firm. We have years of experience helping people and we can help you. Our knowledgeable legal team will work closely with you every step of the way and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Based in Pikeville, KY, we proudly serve communities throughout the Bluegrass State. Contact us by calling 606-437-4488 or filling out our online form.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
