Car crashes are not a surprise on US roads, especially in Nevada. However, having misconceptions about accidental injuries may harm you more. For instance, a large number of people believe that accidental injuries are almost immediately apparent on your body. If there is no blood, you are good to go. This myth has caused many deaths.
According to a Henderson personal injury lawyer, victims of a car accident should always visit the hospital or at least their family doctor right after. Not only do such myths put your health at risk, but they also reduce your chances of recovering a good compensation. The negligent party could be hoping that you fall for an incorrect belief.
Debunking myths about car accident injuries
Protect yourself and stay educated by understanding these car accident injury myths!
1. If the injury is not visible, it does not exist.
Insurance companies are experts in making you feel like a liar if you ask for compensation for an injury that is not visible to the naked eye. Well, not all types of injuries cause bleeding or bruises. For example, musculoskeletal and neurological pain are serious injuries, but an average person will never be able to tell if a person has them. Regardless of whether you can see your body being hurt, go to the doctor for an official report.
2. If the vehicle is not damaged, the people inside it are fine, too.
Another common belief is that if the vehicle involved in the accident is not damaged, the driver and passengers should be fine, too. However, whether your car was damaged or not is not a factor in whether you were injured. There is no relation between the two. You can suffer an injury either way. For example, a whiplash injury can occur when another hits your car from the back. However, it causes little to no damage.
3. Injuries are painfully apparent right away.
This is false. Not all car accident injuries will cause pain immediately after. It is possible not to be able to feel the pain during or the minutes after an accident due to the adrenaline rush in your body. The symptoms do not show up until a few hours, days, or even weeks. That is why it is not recommended to wait until they become apparent to visit the doctor.
The need to see a doctor immediately after the accident.
Some injuries are obvious and will show up right away, raising the need to visit a doctor. On the other hand, some injuries may take a few days or even weeks to show up. One of the biggest mistakes victims make is to delay seeing a doctor. While it has potential consequences for your health, it also has consequences on your claim when you file one.
Primarily, establishing that the injury resulted from the accident can get tricky if you do not seek immediate medical assistance. The insurance company will not only use this against you for lower compensation but also deny your compensation if you fail to prove your injuries.
Second, even if you were able to prove that your injuries resulted from the car accident but you did not take a prompt decision to meet your doctor, the insurance company will be quick to say that your injuries are not serious. They will claim that if your injuries were serious, you would see a doctor instantly. But because the nature of the injury was not serious, you neglected to take prompt action, hence reducing your compensation amount.
This is why it is advisable to seek medical attention as soon as possible after your accident. You will also find out about any major injuries that need attention and also be on the safer side when seeking compensation.
Can you get compensation even if your injuries are not serious?
In Henderson, you are allowed to seek monetary compensation for various injuries and damages. Even if the injuries did not occur, you had to face extensive emotional pain and suffering, and you can demand financial compensation for the same. Often, small accidents do not result in major injuries that might require a medical professional’s invasion. However, the victim might incur property damage and go through pain and suffering.
If the injuries are not serious, victims can still file a car accident claim for other reasons, such as damage to the vehicle, emotional pain and suffering, physical pain and suffering, etc. Legally, there is no rule that will prevent you from seeking compensation for your other problems that happened due to the accident.
In cases where the victim is filing for the claim for other reasons, it is important to understand the process would be same. They need to present evidence of the pain, suffering, and property damage, as well as establish the fault of the negligent party. Without it, claiming compensation would be difficult.
Generally, it is challenging to prove emotional pain and suffering, which can result in the victim either having a denied claim or a low settlement. In such cases, it is vital to have an attorney by your side who can help you calculate the financial value of your pain and suffering and provide evidence to the insurance company.
Contact an attorney for legal help.
The above-mentioned are the three main myths about car accident injuries. The insurance companies initially spread these myths for their own benefit, and then people began believing them, too. That is why the assistance of a good attorney is so important. Additionally, irrespective of your injuries and damages, the attorney works in your favor to help in collecting evidence and demand compensation from the insurance company.
In case the insurance company plays its tactics on you, the attorney will protect you and be in your favor to ensure you get the maximum compensation. Lastly, car accident attorneys do not charge hefty amounts if that is what you are worried about. They work on a contingency basis and will only charge a percentage of the total compensation they help you get from your claim.