How to Recover Compensation for Delayed Car Accident Injuries

Have you or a loved one ever been involved in a car accident? If so, you already know that there are injuries that appear immediately and are pretty obvious to notice. Examples of this could be scrapes, lacerations, and broken bones.

However, some injuries or conditions may not appear immediately and/or may not be as evident to the eye. On the contrary, many of them take time to appear, leaving people thinking that they were not injured during the event.

The way our body works is wonderful. For example, during an accident— which is a very confusing and stressful event—the release of adrenaline and other hormones protects us from pain and prepares us to face the situation so that we can react. When these hormones go down, pain that we could not feel before often appears. 

Even if injuries appear late, you may still be able to recover damages, and in order to do this, it is important that you consider the following:

• Never say you are not injured after an accident. Remember that the first thing you should do is go to a health care professional for a medical check-up. Don’t let anyone try to intimidate you by forcing you to answer questions right after the accident. Instead, ask them to give you time to consult with a doctor before making any statements. A medical professional will be able to tell you, not only if you have an injury at the time, but also what other things you can expect to develop as a result of the accident.

• Keep all the medical records, analyses, studies, and diagnoses that relate your injuries to the accident. The opinion of your doctor will be crucial in the legal process.

• Hire a lawyer. Having an experienced attorney on your side can help make the process much more understandable and bearable for you. In addition, your lawyer can advise you on the strength of your case, the documentation you need, and the statute of limitations that you must respect to present a legal process.

• Remember not to sign anything that the insurance company puts in front of you without consulting with your lawyer. Insurers will try to come to a quick settlement, usually by offering you a much lower amount than you deserve. Do not sign anything before discussing it with your lawyer.

All these points can help you obtain compensation for damages, even in the case of injuries that don’t appear at first. Call SM Law today for a consultation if you require assistance!