Why Small Injuries Matter in Personal Injury Claims
When a driver is involved in a car accident, people may assume that they need to suffer major injuries or total car destruction to move forward with a personal injury claim. However, no injury is too small for a personal injury case.
Insurance companies often try to settle with the smallest amount possible. Little differences may go a long way in providing you with the financial needs to cover all the costs associated with a minor car accident. Learn about how the small injuries matter and ways injury claim assistance from a lawyer will help with your case.
Settlement Checks
After an accident, an insurance company will offer you an initial settlement amount. If you've never been in an accident before, you may not know what to expect when considering a settlement. Many insurance companies will offer the lowest amount possible based on their calculations.
When an insurance company approaches you with a settlement amount, you should avoid signing or taking any money until you have contacted a lawyer. If you accept a low settlement amount, you may not be able to seek out more money in the future. A lawyer can help you get all the money you’re entitled to.
Long-Term Costs
When an insurance company offers a settlement in a minor crash, the final amount typically only accounts for your immediate injuries and vehicle damage. With an attorney, you have the ability to calculate and determine long-term costs, even for a minor accident.
For example, you may have a nagging ankle injury which requires some physical therapy down the line. After the initial accident, an insurance company may not be able to determine the future medical costs and vastly underpay you for the accident.
Even a vehicle could have long-term damage you were unaware about. For example, a door may get dented and the insurance settlement may cover the repair costs. Down the line, you could run into various problems with the window function in the car.
As an alternative, an attorney will help you get a settlement based off various factors and potential problems in the future. The attorney may have both you and the vehicle examined to account for any potential problems in the future.
Loss of Income
Beside the accident, you may experience outside impacts due to the crash. For example, if the accident occurred on your way to work, you may have lost out on income for the day. And even minor injury could also lead to additional days away from the job.
For example, if you are a chef who suffers a minor hand injury, you may have to miss a week or more as your hand heals. An attorney will not only seek compensation for the accident and injuries, but for the loss of income as well.
Emotional Damages
No matter how minor the car accident may have been, an insurance company has trouble accounting for the emotional pain you have been through. There are no set guidelines for the trauma and stress you feel after an accident.
An attorney will guide you through the pain and suffering aspect of your case. You may have additional stress on the road, a fear of driving, or even need for therapy. No crash too big or small can determine the amount of stress you are under, but an attorney will help get compensation for your pain and suffering.
Some of the financial factors may include the costs for counseling or therapy. You may even have extra costs associated with alternative forms of transportation you take. For example, you may choose to pay for a ride share app or public transportation instead of driving your own car.
Every accident matters and deserves attention, even a small fender bender accident or an accident that resulted in minor injuries. Contact our experienced attorneys at Walsh & Associates, PC, for a consultation on your car accident case. We will break down the details and help you receive the compensation you deserve.