A serious car accident can happen anywhere and at any time. You may be on your way home from an after-work grocery run and BAM – another vehicle hits you from behind when you stop for a red light. Or you are minutes away from home after an evening out and a speeding drunk driver sideswipes your vehicle, sending your car into a ditch.
Perhaps, you suffer a traumatic brain injury in the crash or break your leg or injure your back. You file an insurance claim for your injury and hope everything works out. But that may not be the best move. Here are five reasons you should consult a personal injury attorney after an accident:
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Your injury will force you to miss work and will require extensive rehabilitation. If you break a leg and you deliver packages for a living or repair electrical lines, you could miss significant time from work recovering. You want to recoup your lost wages and medical costs after a serious injury.
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You aren’t sure how long you will need medical help to recover from your injury. For example, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury, you may end up needing more rehabilitation and recovery time than your doctor first anticipates.
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You now have a permanent disability because of injuries you sustained in the crash.
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You suffer serious emotional or mental health problems after the accident. For example, you may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a serious crash, making it difficult for you to drive again without suffering from memories of your accident.
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An insurance company offers you an injury settlement. Often, insurance companies offer accident injury victims small settlements, to settle their claim quickly. However, if you agree to a settlement without consulting a personal injury attorney, you could receive less compensation than you deserve.
Suffering a serious injury in an accident is scary and frustrating. You can feel overwhelmed in how to manage your personal injury claim, your recovery and replace your vehicle too. Having a personal injury attorney help you often is in your best interests, so you know you will receive maximum compensation for the injuries you suffered.