Severely Injured After a Rear-End Collision? Here’s How You Can Recover Damages
It’s estimated that there are over 2.5 million rear-end collisions in the United States every year. And while most of them don’t result in serious injuries, it’s not hard to see how a collision like this can lead to major medical bills and time off work. In fact, even when you’re wearing your seat belt, a rear-end collision is one of the most dangerous types of accidents around because these forces go directly against your spine and can cause whiplash or other neck injuries with devastating long-term effects. So if you’ve been involved in a car accident where another driver hit you from behind, here’s what to do next:
1) Get Checked Out By A Doctor
Even though most injuries don’t show up until hours or days after the accident, you should still seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Not only will you need to get your injuries documented by a doctor in case you decide to take legal action, but a medical report can also be used to prove the seriousness of your injury in court. Never attempt to take care of your injuries on your own because you could severely exacerbate an injury if not treated properly. Some of the most common injuries include whiplash, neck injuries, spine injuries, brain injuries, bruising or swelling to the face and body, shock or trauma, back sprains or strains, eye damage from glass fragments in the event of a windshield breakage, chest wall pain or rib fractures. Some of these injuries will require surgery or a stay in the hospital so prepare yourself for these options.
2) Contact A Lawyer
If you’ve suffered injuries because of another driver’s negligent act, it’s important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your medical bills could be significant and you may need to take time off work to recover. A lawyer can help you recover these costs by working with your health insurance provider, investigating the accident and taking statements from witnesses, and negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company – all of which will take a lot of work off your hands. If you have been involved in a rear-end collision that has led to injuries, it’s important to find an attorney in your area. If you live in New Mexico, there’s an Albuquerque car accident lawyer that could help you. Having an attorney on your side can make a huge difference when it comes to recovering damages.
3) Document The Accident
If you haven’t already done so, you should take some time to document the accident by carefully inspecting the vehicles involved. This includes taking photos of the damage, noting any skid marks on the road, and gathering up any documentation you can. For example, if there was a traffic light when the accident happened and it is still green in the photos, then that could be used as evidence that the other driver was speeding and not paying attention to your vehicle in front of them. If you’re able to gather up witnesses who saw what happened, they can also provide valuable testimony. With all of these, your lawyer should be able to help you. He/she can use them to help convince the other driver’s insurance provider that you were injured in the accident and deserve compensation. Depending on the nature of your injuries and which state you live in, you may be able to take legal action against the other driver for compensation.
4) Start The Claim Process
After gathering as much evidence as possible and speaking to a lawyer, you should contact the other driver’s insurance company and start filing your claim. Depending on how long this takes, you may or may not be able to receive compensation for your losses right away. Even if you do file first and win, it can take years before anything is paid out. If you need to pay for medical treatments or take time off work, that can make things difficult since most people can’t afford such costs without help. While it is possible to sue the other driver in court and win, the process can take a long time and you have to be prepared for that. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure that you listen to your lawyer because he/she knows what they’re talking about. If you follow their advice, you should come out of this process in much better shape than when the accident happened and that’s all anyone can hope for when things go wrong.
5) Take Time To Recover
Car accidents can be pretty stressful, especially if you’ve suffered injuries. You may feel like you want to get back out there and do the things you used to do, but this is often not a good idea. Take time off work if necessary so that you can fully recuperate. Make sure not to rush yourself because your body will need some time before it can handle these kinds of activities. If you think this accident has caused you some problems with mental health as well, then it’s a good idea to speak with a therapist or counselor about that. It can be tough to deal with injuries and the stress of going through this process, but pushing yourself too hard can actually make things worse. There are also a lot of relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga that can help you feel better.
Car accidents can be a stressful and confusing experience, especially if you were injured. This article discussed the process of recovering damages after rear-end collisions. It’s important to document the accident by taking photos and gathering up witness testimony so that your lawyer has all of the necessary evidence they need when negotiating with other drivers’ insurance companies or filing for civil suits. Taking time off work is also advised in order to fully recuperate from car accidents due to their mental and physical tolls on one’s body. We hope this article helps you understand better the process of claiming damages after being involved in a rear-end collision.
