Let’s face it, numerous car accidents happen every day. Unfortunately, many of those accidents cause injuries. It is very rare for the fault of the accident to be clear cut and agreed upon by both drivers involved. It usually comes down to the police report and eyewitness accounts of what happened. Insurance companies are certainly not eager to immediately pay for your medical bills or to fix or replace your vehicle. Personal injury lawyers are ready to take action and fight for your rightful compensation. In hiring an experienced lawyer, they will deal with both your insurance company and that of the other driver, allowing you to recover and heal from the traumatic experience.
Types of injuries you may have sustained:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Bruising
- Pain or discomfort in the back, hips or knees
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Psychological trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What should you do if injured?
You should seek immediate medical attention. If your injuries are such that you need an ambulance from the scene of the accident, the responding police officer will call one for you. Very often, people experience a rush of adrenalin after an accident and do not realize they are in pain until later when they get home and things are settled. If that is the case for you, you should go to a doctor immediately. Not only is it better to treat your injuries right away but many insurance companies have a window of time allowed for it to be considered accident related, typically it is about 72 hours.
What type of doctor should you go to?
If you are in extreme pain, you should probably go to the emergency room. However, if it is not that severe, you can go to your primary care physician, a chiropractor, an orthopedic specialist, a neurologist or even a psycho therapist. You may need any combination of those listed. It really depends on your injury or injuries. Be sure to document everything!
An experienced attorney can be sympathetic to your situation and can guide you through the healing process as well as the financial loss as a result of your accident injury. It can be a stressful situation and your lawyer should do everything in their legal power to get you the compensation you deserve.
The types of compensation you may be entitled to include:
- Medical bills- ambulance ride, emergency room charges, x-rays, CAT scans, MRI’s, doctor office visits (immediate and ongoing)
- Lost wages
- Car repair or the cost of a new car
- Other expenses associated with the accident- rental car, taxi or public transportation cost as a result of your car being damaged, etc.
If you were in a car accident that resulted in injury, you owe it to yourself to hire a the best personal injury lawyers Salt Lake City, Utah with experience and integrity.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Rasmussen & Miner Attorneys at Law for their insight into car accident injuries.