Steps to Take After Suffering a Delayed Car Crash Injury
Posted on behalf of James Lynch on October 1, 2018 in Car Accident News. Updated on March 2, 2022
Typically, car accidents result in serious injuries that are immediately apparent and display external symptoms. However, many auto accidents result in injuries that have hidden or delayed symptoms that take time to develop or require medical attention to diagnose.
When this occurs, it can be difficult to obtain the compensation you need. For this reason, you should always seek medical attention after a car accident. Then contact a lawyer to discuss filing a claim to pursue compensation.
Lynch Law Firm, PC’s car accident lawyers in New Jersey understand how to help victims who suffer delayed injuries. Contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your claim. We will review your car accident and resulting injury to determine if you may be entitled to compensation.
Below, we discuss several steps you should take to preserve your claim if you suffer a delayed car accident injury.
Types of Delayed Injuries
The most common delayed injuries persons involved in vehicle accidents may experience include:
- Internal bleeding
- Soft-tissue damage
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Whiplash
- Fractured bones
- Bruising
- Abdominal pain
- Wrist injuries
- Shoulder injuries
Seek Medical Treatment
Even if you do not believe you have suffered an injury during a car crash, you should always seek medical attention from a health care provider.
During your initial examination, a health care provider may subject you to a series of medical tests to diagnose your injuries and find any hidden or delayed symptoms that may indicate you suffered additional injuries.
Additionally, seeking medical attention is vital when you pursue a personal injury claim. It proves that you suffered an injury during the car accident and that you are actively seeking medical treatment to heal your condition.
The results from your medical tests will also show the types of injuries you suffered and their severity. Your health care provider should also prescribe you a treatment plan that can be used as evidence to show the cost of your medical expenses.
Consult With an Attorney
Once you have received medical treatment for your injuries, you should consider contacting an attorney to discuss filing a claim against the at-fault driver.
Your attorney will carefully review your auto accident and resulting injuries to determine how your life has been affected since the crash. Based on this information, your attorney will know how much compensation you may be entitled to receive for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Furthermore, your attorney will have extensive knowledge of New Jersey’s personal injury laws and will understand how to negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to receive a fair settlement on your behalf.
Your attorney will also help you build a case against the at-fault party. This includes gathering evidence to support your claim, such as your accident report, pictures of your injuries and the accident scene, medical records and witness testimony. This can be used to establish that the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident and is liable for your injuries.
Do Not Accept a Settlement
Shortly after your car accident, you will likely be contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurer will provide you a settlement offer to quickly resolve your claim. However, you should never accept the first offer you receive.
Insurers often depend on car accident victims to accept the first settlement offer they receive. However, an insurer’s initial offer is often much lower than what you may deserve. If you suffered an injury with delayed or hidden symptoms, you will need to carefully consider the cost of future medical treatment and whether your injury will cause you to suffer a permanent disability.
If you accept an insurer’s first offer without considering these factors, you cannot receive additional compensation. For this reason, you should not accept any offers until you understand the true effects of your injuries. It may also help to consult with a New Jersey personal injury lawyer who can explain the true value of your claim. Your attorney will also be able to negotiate with an insurer to help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation
An auto accident can have a significant impact on a victim’s life. If you suffered a delayed injury, you may experience symptoms for several months or years after the accident.
Lynch Law Firm, PC has helped numerous auto accident victims obtain the justice and compensation they deserved. We are dedicated to helping our clients and know how to bring claims for victims who suffer injuries with delayed or hidden symptoms.
To find out if you have a case, contact us to schedule a free consultation. We provide all of our services on a contingency fee basis and will only charge you if we help you recover compensation.
To get started, call (800) 518-0508 today.