Accidents happen to all of us, and vehicle accidents are especially common. Each year in the U.S. there are between 6 and 7 million vehicle collisions—an average of between 16,500 and 19,900 accidents every day.
While many of these accidents are serious, the majority are relatively minor. But determining the severity of an accident isn’t always a simple matter.
Often, an accident appears to be minor at first. But, in the ensuing weeks and months, as the full extent of injuries related to the accident become known, what at first may have appeared to be a minor accident can instead have a major impact on an accident victim and their family.
Insurance companies understand this. It’s why, to minimize the hit to their bottom line, they will often try to settle victims’ claims as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, many victims, believing their injuries are minor, quickly accept the settlement the insurance company offers. In doing so, they may not realize that by signing off on the settlement, they could also be signing away their ability to seek additional compensation from the insurance company if the accident proves more severe than it initially appeared.
The Importance of Legal Counsel
The personal injury attorneys at Tiano O’Dell remind you if you have been injured in an accident in which someone else was at fault you should seek legal counsel before you sign any settlement presented to you by an insurance company.
We also remind you that there are telltale signs that your minor accident may not have been that minor.
Here are seven signs that your accident may have been more serious than you first believed—and that you could have grounds for a major personal injury case.
Sign #1 – Pain That Shows Up Days Later
As your body processes the accident, some injuries won’t be immediately apparent. For example, injuries such as whiplash or soft tissue injuries may not be properly diagnosed right away.
Also, relatively minor symptoms may be signs of more serious injuries that can get overlooked when seeking initial treatment after the accident.
Sign #2 – Ongoing Headaches or Dizziness
Headaches or dizzy spells after an accident could be signs of a concussion or a more serious brain injury that can require involved or long-term treatment. The costs associated with this treatment wouldn’t be known immediately after an accident occurs.
Sign #3 – Difficulty Working or Performing Daily Tasks
If the injuries suffered during an accident are preventing you from resuming your normal life, you likely have grounds for a claim.
Sometimes the physical injuries are only part of the story. The psychological trauma caused by an accident can also prevent victims from returning to work or resuming their regular daily activities.
Sign #4 – High Out-of-Pocket Medical Bills
While insurance should fully or partially cover medical bills related to an accident, the portion that falls to the victim to pay can be staggering. This can be especially true if the accident requires extended or repeated hospitalizations, or if treatment, such as physical therapy, lasts months—or longer.
All too common are instances of individuals facing mounting debt or even needing to declare bankruptcy because of accident-related medical bills.
Sign #5 – The Other Driver Admitted Fault (But Their Insurance Denied Your Claim)
While, in a perfect world, insurance companies will always do what is fair, in the real world it doesn’t always work that way. If you’re in an accident that was the fault of another driver, and their insurance company denies your claims—even if the other driver admitted fault—you can be left both in pain and in debt. In these cases, legal action can be your best option.
Sign #6 – Property Damage Seems Minor, But Pain Persists
A minor fender-bender may only result in a crumpled fender, a broken headlight, or a damaged fence or mailbox. But it can still result in painful, chronic injuries. If your pain persists long after the property repairs are completed, your “minor accident” may not have been that minor after all.
Sign #7 – You’re Pressured to Settle Fast
Insurance companies typically want to resolve claims as quickly as possible. Remember, though, that the time it takes for you to fully recover from an accident won’t necessarily synch up with an insurance company’s accelerated timeline.
If an insurance company pressures you to settle before you know the full extent of the accident’s impact on you and your loved ones, don’t do so before speaking with an experience personal injury attorney.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
Minor accidents can have a major impact on your physical and mental health, your finances, and your family.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident—however minor—where others are at fault, contact Tiano O’Dell, PLLC today for a free consultation.
You can contact us online or call (304) 915-0823.
