You might have walked away from a car accident feeling fine, but two days later, you wake up with unbearable pain. This is not uncommon as delayed car accident injuries can surface hours or even days or weeks after an accident.
Unfortunately, insurance companies may try to dismiss these injuries and offer less compensation than what you deserve. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to identify delayed injuries and fight for the proper compensation with the help of an Irvine car accident lawyer, so that you can focus on your recovery instead of financial stress.
Types of Delayed Car Accident Injuries
There are many different types of delayed car accident injuries. Some of the most common include:
Whiplash
This is one of the most common delayed car accident injuries. Whiplash occurs when your head is suddenly jerked forward or backward, causing your neck to hyperextend. This can lead to a number of symptoms, including headaches, neck pain, dizziness, and even fatigue.
Soft Tissue Injuries
These are injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your body. They can be caused by a number of things, including seat belts tightening during a crash or being thrown around inside the vehicle. Soft tissue injuries can lead to a lot of pain and discomfort, as well as stiffness and loss of range of motion.
Internal Injuries
These are often more serious than external ones because they can involve organs being damaged or displaced. A blow to the stomach can cause internal bleeding, while a hit to the chest can damage the lungs or heart. Internal injuries can be very serious and even life-threatening.
Key Steps To Take If You’re Experiencing Delayed Injuries
Since delayed car accident injuries may take days or even weeks to develop after your crash, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as you start experiencing any type of pain or discomfort.
Even if your injuries are minor, it’s recommended to get them checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may not show symptoms immediately but can still be serious. If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, it may put you at risk while also making it more difficult to prove that your injury was caused by the car accident and not something else.
Once you’ve seen a doctor, you should contact an experienced Irvine car accident lawyer to discuss your case. Your lawyer will be able to help you understand your legal rights and options and can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Why Delayed Car Accident Injuries Can Be Difficult to Prove
Delayed car accident injuries can be difficult to prove because there may not be any visible signs of injury or pain at the time of the accident. Insurance companies may argue that the injury was not caused by the accident or that it was a pre-existing condition.
Another challenge in proving delayed car accident injuries is that the symptoms may not appear until days or weeks after the accident. This can make it difficult to establish a direct link between the accident and the injury.
This is why it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident and to document any symptoms or pain that develop over time. It is also important to keep detailed records of any medical treatments you receive, including the date, time, and location of each visit, the names of any doctors or specialists you see, as well as records of missed work or other expenses related to the injury.
If you have witnesses who saw the accident and can attest to the fact that you were injured as a result, their testimony can also be helpful in building your case. Photos of the accident scene and any damage to your vehicle can also be used as evidence.
Collecting this evidence as soon as possible after the accident will help ensure that your claim is successful. If you wait too long, it may be more difficult to prove that your injuries were caused by the crash.
How Do You Know If You Qualify for Compensation?
There are a few things to consider when determining if you qualify for compensation for delayed car accident injuries. First, it’s important to note that if the accident was caused by the other driver’s negligence, you are eligible for compensation. Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation.
If you are 25% at fault for a crash, the other driver will only have to pay 75% of the damages. California is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that you can still recover damages if you are more than 50 percent to blame for the accident.
Severity of Injuries
Next, you’ll need to consider the severity of your injuries. Compensation is typically only available for injuries that are considered “serious” under the law. This includes injuries that require hospitalization, surgery, or long-term care. If your injuries are minor and don’t require any medical treatment, you probably won’t qualify for compensation.
Impact on Personal and Professional Life
You’ll also need to think about how the accident has impacted your life. Compensation is typically only available for victims who have suffered significant financial losses as a result of their injuries. This could include lost wages from being unable to work, medical expenses, and property damage. If the accident hasn’t had a major impact on your life, you probably won’t qualify for compensation.
If you’re unsure whether or not you qualify for compensation after a car accident, it’s always best to speak with an experienced Irvine personal injury attorney. They can review the details of your case and help you determine if you have a valid claim.
Types of Damages You Can Receive
There are a few different types of damages that you can receive with a delayed car accident injury claim. These include:
- Medical expenses: This can include both past and future medical bills, as well as any rehabilitation or therapy costs.
- Lost wages: If your injuries have caused you to miss work, you may be able to recover your lost wages.
- Pain and suffering: This type of non-economic damages can be awarded for the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
- Punitive damages: In some cases, the court may award punitive damages if the other driver was particularly careless or reckless.
How an Irvine Car Accident Lawyer Can Get You the Compensation You Deserve
An experienced car accident lawyer in Irvine can help you get the compensation you deserve for your delayed car accident injuries by thoroughly investigating your accident to identify all potential sources of liability and collecting all evidence to support your claim, including witness statements, photos, and medical records.
Your attorney will also be able to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to get you the maximum possible settlement or take your case to trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
Our car accident attorneys in Irvine have the experience and knowledge necessary to handle even the most complex delayed injury cases. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your delayed car accident injuries so that you can focus on your recovery and move forward with your life.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
