Car accident injuries can range from small scrapes and bruises to serious, life-threatening emergencies. Sometimes you may not think that an accident needs medical attention. However, you should always seek medical attention after any incident. Some injuries may not show symptoms for days, weeks, or even a year after an event, so you may not incur accident-related medical bills for a long time. Some vehicle accident victims make it a point to seek legal assistance as quickly as possible to investigate potential claims for compensation from guilty parties.
Even if your only complaint after a car accident is a headache, severe or chronic headaches may indicate a subdural or cerebral hematoma, which can be fatal. For these reasons, you should seek medical assistance immediately after any accident.
According to these car accident lawyers in Gainesville, a successful personal injury case typically requires you to demonstrate that you experienced financial or noneconomic losses due to the negligent party’s injuries. Your injuries must be severe enough to justify losses like medical bills and missed payments.
Examples of Car Accident Injuries With Delayed Symptoms
Several vehicle accident injuries may have delayed symptoms, so keeping a lookout for them in the days and weeks following an accident may be beneficial. The following are some instances of vehicle accident injuries that may cause delayed symptoms:
Whiplash
A strong strain on the neck causes whiplash and usually happens within days of an event. It may also cause chronic neck pain.
Concussions
While most concussions heal in a few days, some people mistake a more serious brain injury for a simple concussion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you have concussion symptoms for weeks or months, such as a headache or vomiting, you may have post-concussive syndrome.
Internal Hemorrhage
Internal bleeding is another injury that might show itself late after a car collision. Seat belts protect you from the impact of a collision. Still, research from the International Journal of Surgery Case discovered that during the impact, they might cause intra-abdominal bleeding that the accident victim may not identify immediately.
Damage to Property
You may also sue for property damage, but depending on your state, you may first have to file a claim with your insurance or the defendant’s insurance. However, these types of claims rarely result in a big financial return.
Injury-Related Losses
You will need to demonstrate four pieces of the evidence whether you submit a claim with your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company:
- The other driver owes you a duty of care.
- The other driver violated their duty of care through some action or inaction.
- The breach caused your injuries.
- You suffered losses from your injuries, such as lost wages or medical expenditures.
If you launch a civil lawsuit, you will also need to prove these four aspects.
Claiming Pain and Suffering Damages
In addition to physical injuries, you may suffer from pain and suffering or psychological stress due to the accident. Depending on the severity of your situation, emotional distress may qualify as a noneconomic loss for which a responsible party may compensate you. A lawyer can assist you in assigning a monetary value to such noneconomic losses to strengthen your case for reasonable compensation.
Even if you were not injured, you could suffer several car accident-related costs and losses. For example, even if you only miss one day of work due to a lack of transportation, you may miss out on:
- Bonuses
- Wages
- Tips
- Salary
- Commission
- Benefits
As a result, you may be able to sue the at-fault driver for these losses. Alternatively, you may be able to recover the cost of renting a car or taking public transportation while your vehicle is being fixed or replaced.
Final Words
Do you need a personal injury lawyer if you were not injured in a car accident? Many vehicle accident victims file lawsuits to receive compensation for their injuries and associated costs. A personal injury lawyer, on the other hand, can defend any victim who has been injured as a result of the negligence of another party. This can include both financial and psychological harm, in addition to physical impairments.
