Car crash injuries might not surface until days or even weeks later. The shock of a car accident can make people feel just happy to be alive. Immediately after an accident, people are shaken, are looking for the damage to their cars, and are not focused on their own discomfort. People tend to ignore minor aches and pains that initially seem insignificant. An accident victim should be aware of minor aches and pains. Those minor aches and pains can turn into serious injuries as time goes by.
Injuries Can Surface or Become Worse Over Time
A sore neck at the scene of the accident can turn into whiplash a day or two later. A sore back can surface a few days after the accident even though there was little or no pain at the time of the accident. A person who goes on with his daily tasks, and goes back to work, might not even realize that the accident was the cause of the injury because the pain might surface when lifting something heavy at home or at work.
When people settle a claim following a car accident with an insurance company, the accident victim will be required to sign a document stating that he will not sue the insurance company for more damages, including future medical care. It is important that the accident victim does not sign that document too soon after a car accident.
Extended Care
Beyond the initial injuries which may not surface for days or weeks, an injury which seems to have healed may end up requiring months of physical therapy or chiropractic care. Accident victims may feel relief after a few sessions, but once that person returns to work and to a more active lifestyle, the pain may reoccur and the victim may need more medical care.
A lingering injury may cause an accident victim to lose time from work or to lose the ability to care for her children and do housework. If a person needs to hire replacement services, or if she misses time off from work beyond what is allowed by her employer, those costs would typically be covered by insurance. If an accident victim settles before she misses more work, or before she has replacement services adding up expenses, she may lose the ability to be compensate for those expenses.
Getting Legal Help
Before signing away rights to future compensation, an accident victim should consult a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney can advise a victim on the right time to settle. Obviously an accident victim needs to settle in order to be compensated and while bills are adding up, and time goes by, the victim will become more anxious to receive payments. An objective attorney can help assess the right time and help assure the victim’s rights are not compromised.
