Atlanta is known for heavy traffic, which means car accidents are unfortunately common. Those involved in these accidents are not always lucky enough to walk away unscathed. Some struggle with difficult recoveries for many years after an accident.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may not be aware that your journey to recovery may be very long. It all depends on the type of injuries you sustained and how quickly you received medical attention. It also depends on whether you can get a settlement to cover your ongoing medical and other expenses.
Keep reading to discover how your type of injury may affect your personal injury claim after an accident.
Car Accident Injuries That Happen All the Time
Car accidents can cause several types of injuries. Whiplash is one of the most common, and often the mildest, injuries.
Whiplash happens when your head is unexpectedly forced backward and then snapped forward. Depending on the force of impact, this sudden movement can stretch or even tear the soft tissues in your neck.
If you suffer whiplash in an accident (typically a rear-end collision), you must get prompt medical treatment to prevent complications. If the whiplash is treated fast, you may only experience stiffness and headaches.
Broken Bones
Fractures are also common after car accidents. You could break just about any bone in your body, depending on how severe the accident is. This includes arms, legs, ribs, ankles, collarbones, etc. High-impact collisions usually result in broken bones.
If you break a bone in an accident, you will likely be immobilized. You may also need surgery, depending on whether the break is clean. Recovery can take several weeks or even months. If complications arise, you may need ongoing medical care during this time and afterward.
Head Injuries
Unfortunately, head injuries are usually associated with severe accidents. In mild cases, victims usually suffer only a concussion that they recover from relatively quickly. However, even mild concussions can result in confusion, memory problems, and dizziness.
In some instances, what looks like a concussion can worsen into a severe brain injury that needs long-term treatment. This is why getting medical treatment immediately after an accident is so important.
Soft Tissue Injuries
After a car accident, you may only suffer soft tissue injuries like sprains or strains. These injuries affect muscles, ligaments, and tendons. You may experience pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
Do not assume that these injuries are minor and leave them untreated. Even if your pain is mild, the injury may be more severe than you realize. If you don’t get medical treatment and advice, they may worsen.
Spinal Cord Injury
One of the most dangerous types of car accident injury is a spinal cord injury. If you severely damage your spine, it may result in temporary or permanent paralysis. Either way, you will have to get extensive rehabilitation, and your condition will affect your quality of life.
Again, even if you believe your spinal injury is minor, you must be checked by a specialist to make sure.
Lacerations and Abrasions
Even if you only suffer lacerations or abrasions in an accident, they can evolve into something more serious. If your cuts and bruises are not properly treated, you could contract an infection, which will keep you in the hospital.
How Your Injuries Affect Your Claim
The type and severity of your injuries will determine how much compensation you can claim. Insurance companies and lawyers consider several elements when calculating a settlement. These include medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of income.
The most obvious part of your claim is your medical expenses. If you have a serious injury, complication, or condition because of the accident, you will need extensive treatment. The more treatments and surgeries you need, the higher your bills will climb.
If you need long-term treatment, your expenses will grow even more. You must keep a detailed record of all your expenses to include them in your claim.
The same applies if you can no longer work. You need proof, so get an employer statement or letter and your pay stubs together to show your loss of income.
If you suffer extreme or chronic pain, your settlement should compensate you for this, too.
Remember that when it comes to medical treatment, you must receive it as soon as possible. Early treatment will help you recover faster and can help you document how serious your injuries are. If you delay treatment, insurance companies can use it against you.
Make an Effort to Document Your Case
Documenting your case and your injuries makes it easier for your lawyer to win your case. So, if you are struggling after a car accident, start compiling the evidence today and work with your lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.