- Car Accidents
After a car accident, you may notice some injuries immediately through swelling, bleeding, and pain. However, some other wounds may have delayed symptoms that will not appear or arise until hours or days later. Unfortunately, experiencing this type of delayed injury isn’t an uncommon situation. Douglasville auto accident lawyers see these situations quite often.
Delayed injuries result from adrenaline masking pain after an accident. When this happens, the accident victim believes they have not been injured. Accident victims who suffer delayed injuries often wonder if it’s possible to claim financial compensation from the at-fault party.
Crash victims with delayed wounds can seek compensation. However, there are vital steps you need to take for this to happen, beginning with speaking to Douglasville auto accident lawyers. Our legal team at Hartley, Rowe, and Fowler will help you understand your options and navigate the claims process.
How Long Do I Have to Claim Compensation after a Douglasville Auto Accident?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations on all personal injury cases, including auto accident cases, is two years. So, after an accident, your auto accident lawyers in Douglasville have two years starting from the accident that occurred to file any paperwork and file for a claim.
While it is important to file within the deadline, you also want to take your time before accepting a settlement. Before completing your lawsuit, you must first understand the injuries you sustained and how they will impact your life. If you are too quick to speak to insurance companies or move for settlement, you may end up accepting less compensation than you deserve for your injuries and any future medical treatment.
So, do not claim financial compensation immediately after a car accident. Instead, be patient and wait for a few days to see how you feel or if any delayed injuries might begin to show symptoms. Also, visit a doctor and be sure that you have no additional injuries before claiming monetary compensation.
Douglasville Auto Accident Lawyers Discuss the Common Types of Delayed Injuries
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, you may sustain different types of injuries which may or may be evident immediately. For example, when you have a concussion, you may not notice any symptoms immediately. Rather, you begin to notice subtle signs hours or days after the crash. Some of these symptoms of concussion include headaches, brain fog, and trouble focusing.
Other types of delayed injuries after a car accident include the following:
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Bleeding or internal injury
- Herniation
- Psychological injuries
- Nerve damage
The possibility of having delayed injuries is why it is important that you see a doctor after a car accident. Quick medical care will allow a doctor to determine your injury and begin treatment to avoid further complications.
Is It Possible to Claim Financial Compensation for Delayed Injuries in Douglassville?
If you were involved in an auto crash and your injuries only show hours or days later, you can still claim compensation. However, note that insurance companies usually require claimants to report auto accidents within three days of the crash. As such, if the days elapse and your injury appears afterward, ensure you notify them immediately.
Accompany the notification with your medical record showing the wound and why it took time to manifest. Doing this is crucial as insurance companies will find any opportunity to deny a payout or diminish your claim.
So, if you wait too long to report a delayed injury, it gives the insurance company reasons to deny your claim and they will also blame you for failing to mitigate your loss. They also claim that your injuries occurred in a more recent accident, not the one you filed a claim for.
Finally, avoid telling the insurance representative that you did not sustain any injury immediately after an accident. If you do and delayed injuries later manifest, your claim might be unsuccessful. Instead, direct the insurance company rep to your auto accident lawyers in Douglasville.
How Do I Improve My Chances of Getting Compensation?
Do the following to avoid jeopardizing your personal injury claim:
Don’t Answer Questions Regarding Your Injuries
You will jeopardize your chances of recovering financial compensation if you tell anyone, especially insurance companies, that you were not injured. Again, even if you feel fine, you should not forget that you might have delayed injuries.
If you must speak to the insurance company rep, you could explain that you are heading to see a doctor and will be able to answer any questions regarding your injuries later. In addition, ensure you don’t sign documents until you have seen a doctor and consulted with your attorney.
Head to the Hospital Immediately
After a crash, the first thing you need to do is head to the hospital. When you reach out to a doctor immediately after an accident, it shows that you are concerned about the chances of an internal injury even if you feel fine.
Doing this could save your life especially when there’s a possibility of an internal wound. The emergency room doctor will order several tests to ensure there is no internal bleeding or organ damage. If the tests are clear, you will be home; but if not, the doctor will begin treatment.
Get Copies of Your Medical Records
To claim financial compensation for delayed injuries, you need records of your medical diagnosis, evaluations, and treatments. So, ensure that you are able to get evidence of your visit to the hospital, such as medical records and a letter from your doctor.
Aside from showing you suffered delayed injuries, your medical shows the cost of treatment, and any damage caused by the wound. It also reveals if you need medical equipment to live or require future medical care. With this information, you can accurately calculate how much you deserve and avoid having to pay for your medical needs out-of-pocket in the future.
Speak to a Lawyer
Personal injury attorneys understand how the claims process for delayed injuries works. They also know the tricks used by insurers to deny claims or pay victims less than they deserve. Therefore, your Auto accident lawyers in Douglasville will ensure you do not fall prey to the insurer’s tactics and get you the maximum settlement.
Speak With Douglasville Auto Accident Lawyers Today!
To ensure that your financial compensation is in experienced hands, speak to our Douglassville injury attorneys at Hartley, Rowe, & Fowler. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, handle any settlement negotiations and recover maximum financial compensation for your delayed injuries.
So don’t take your chances and contact us today for a free case consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing until we win your case.
