We recommend that they do so. Not every no injury car accident is the same, but many motorists end up developing delayed symptoms. In a day or two, or maybe a week, you could feel terrible, all because you were really injured in the car accident.
Many of the most common car accident injuries take a while to develop. For example, you might suffer from any of the following without realizing it:
Soft-tissue injuries. These can include bruises, strains, and sprains. Soft tissue refers to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves, any of which can be injured in a car accident. For example, the force of a car accident can cause the seat belt to bruise someone’s chest or tear muscles in the pectoral area. You might not immediately feel pain, or you may feel some tenderness but slowly develop more debilitating symptoms after a few days.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). A TBI can occur in a car accident when the brain jiggles around inside the skull. This forceful shaking can cause small tears in the brain tissue and at the same time disrupt how the brain normally works. Many people suffer a TBI without even knowing it.
A severe TBI will cause someone to black out for minutes or hours. But a milder TBI might not. However, the motorist eventually notices impairments with speech, balance, memory, and coordination over the ensuing days. These are common TBI symptoms, which will require medical attention.
Herniated disc. The rubbery discs between our vertebrae can be damaged in a car accident, pushing against nerves and causing near constant pain. After an accident, many victims might simply assume that the pain they feel is “normal” and nothing to worry about. They might think it will disappear if they just rest. However, over time, a herniated disc untreated can get worse.
If you’ve been in a crash, don’t assume that you have not suffered a serious injury simply because you didn’t break a bone or start bleeding from an open wound. You still should contact an auto accident lawyer if no injury is apparent.
You might not have been in the car when it was struck, so you are confident you didn’t suffer an injury. If all you have is property damage, then there is rarely a reason to hire an attorney to negotiate your claim. However, each case is different. And in some cases you need the help of a car accident lawyer if no injury occurred.
Under the law, you have the right to have your car restored to its condition before the accident. So if your car was brand new, it should be put back in that condition with repairs. If your car is 10 years old, however, it only needs to be brought back to its condition the morning of the accident. You do not have a right for your old clunker to be made brand new.
Usually, after a property-damage crash, you call the other driver’s insurance company, which assigns a claims adjuster to your case. This adjuster will coordinate with a body shop to check how much it will cost to repair your car. Generally, there should be few snags. But if the insurance adjuster refuses to fully repair your car, then you might need to consult an attorney for information about what to do.
Even if you think you have suffered no injury, you should still carefully analyze your circumstances. Wait a few days for symptoms to manifest and meet with an attorney if they do.
A Greenville, NC car accident lawyer like Harry Albritton of Irons & Irons P.A. has helped many people like you obtain compensation in a settlement or lawsuit. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.