Whether it a fender bender or a catastrophic car accident, make sure you fully understand the scope of your medical situation (and expenses!) before you settle, or sign any documentation.
Fender benders – small, seemingly innocuous accidents – are sometimes the hardest to deal with and can be the most costly and complicated over the long term. Let’s say a car hits your car in a parking lot, traveling at only 10-15 miles an hour. You get out, survey your car and see absolutely no damage. You smile, shake hands with the person that hit you and go on your way: without exchanging insurance information or getting their license number.
Serious injuries can not only be caused or triggered by even the smallest car, truck or motorcycle accident, but they can linger and not appear for days or even weeks. The physical consequences of any crash, even at a low speed, is more than enough force and direction to cause injuries such as:
— neck injuries
— back injuries
— spinal column injuries
— wrongful death
— paralysis
Symptoms of many types of injuries can show up in the days and weeks following the incident itself – which makes it incredibly important that regardless of the size of the accident, that you see a medical professional and follow their advice. You never know what will happen and you never know what kinds of expenses could arise after the accident.
— medical bills
— physical therapy
— surgery
— loss of wages
The importance of seeing a doctor after your accident can not be understated – if you do wind up contacting an attorney because of your accident and you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, your chances may be lessened because you did not see a doctor.
DON’T SIGN ANYTHING
If you’ve been in an accident and you sign a document from the insurance company agreeing to accept a specific amount for your claim, that’s it, that’s the limit of your financial compensation; even if medical bills continue to pile up, even if you miss work for weeks on end, even if you are physically unable to enjoy your friends and family the way you did before the accident. Once you sign, that’s all you get.
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU DESERVE
If you or a loved one has been in a negligent accident, please give us a call for a free, confidential conversation about your legal rights.
