Automobile accidents are unpredictable, stressful, and life-changing events. Even mild injuries can greatly impact your life and hinder your ability to meet your professional and personal responsibilities. In addition, some injuries are not readily apparent and may only become known over time. When injuries appear later (and not when the accident occurred), the statute of limitations becomes an important consideration. Knowing more about how accidents occur, the types of injuries they can cause, and how to respond to specific laws, such as the proper time frame for filings, allows you to be better prepared.
Common Causes of Automobile Accidents
Automobile accidents can have several root causes. It only takes a second for something to go wrong, and there are driver actions and outside factors that can quickly lead to a collusion. Some of the most common factors include:
- Distractions: a driver looking away from the road can easily lead to a collision timeartup. Something as mundane as changing the radio station, looking at something interesting off to the side, or a sudden loud noise can distract a driver. The sun has also led to accidents as it can greatly limit a driver’s range of sight and in extreme cases completely block their vision.
- Smartphones: smartphones have become a common cause of automobile accidents in the modern world. While smartphones can be a distraction (such as glancing down at an alert), there are other ways widespread smartphone use has led to automobile accidents. Many drivers try to text and drive, talk on the phone, and sometimes even watch videos while driving. This goes well beyond a standard distraction and can lead to drivers becoming completely unaware of what is happening around them. This not only increases the number of accidents but can, in some cases, increase severity.
- Health Issues: a driver can have a sudden health concern that can lead to an accident. This can often be unpredictable and in some cases there can be very little a driver could have done to prevent such an accident. Unfortunately, some accidents are caused due to events not entirely under the control of either driver. However, this does not limit the ability to be made whole through the court process and associated insurance providers who cover drivers, even in cases of accidents such as this.
- Chemical Impairment: substances such as drugs and alcohol can greatly decrease the ability to safely operate an automobile, and, sadly, DUIs are often the cause of an accident. While DUI accidents are often stereotyped as occurring at night or on weekends, they, like any other type of accident, can occur at nearly any time.
Injuries That a Car Accident Can Cause
Automobile accidents can vary greatly in scope in terms of the damage they cause to both people and property. Common automobile injuries include broken bones, muscle injuries, internal injuries, burns, and damage to your joints. Many of the injuries caused in an automobile accident are readily apparent and in cases of severe accidents may require immediate hospital care. Filing a claim for these types of injuries often occurs relatively quickly. Not all injuries that an auto accident can cause require immediate care. These types of un-apparent injuries can be severe, and filing a suit is the right course of action in several cases.
Injuries That May Not Be Apparent
Some injuries caused by automobile accidents may not be apparent at first. Sometimes, you can go home after an accident feeling that nothing is wrong for several days or even weeks. It can take time before symptoms develop and you visit a doctor. Some injuries that a car accident can cause that take time to appear include:
- Soft Tissue Injuries: these types of injuries can cause pain, swelling, a reduced range of motion, and other symptoms. A common type of soft tissue injury caused by car accidents is whiplash, where a crash’s sudden jerking motion injures your neck muscles, ligaments, and joints. Often, it can take time for symptoms to occur, along with other signs of injury, such as bruising. Soft tissue injuries require a proper medical examination to determine the exact type of injury you’re dealing with, as the symptoms can be broad and easily mistaken for other common ailments. For example, whiplash can lead to headaches.
- Back and Spine Injuries: the sudden jolt of a car accident often injures the back, and even a mild accident can lead to back issues. Damage varies and can include injury to the joints, bones, muscles, discs, tendons, and nervous system. Delayed symptoms such as pain when sitting or standing, stiffness, headaches, tingling in your hands or feet, headaches, and numbness can be signs of a back or spine injury.
- Concussions: a brain injury is one of the most dangerous outcomes of an automobile accident, and this includes concussions. Some of the symptoms, such as headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and reduced awareness, may not appear until long after the accident. While a brief blackout can occur during an accident, some concussions do not cause unconsciousness, and you may not be aware you have been hurt until later.
There can be several reasons why you would delay in reporting an automobile accident injury. Automobile accidents are highly stressful, and you may not be thinking clearly, given the situation. In some cases, you are angry or have an adrenaline rush due to the situation and may not know you are even hurt until you calm down. If the accident was mild, you may feel embarrassed to report an injury from what you viewed as a minor accident. In addition, some injuries are not readily apparent until symptoms develop later.
Filings, Evidence, and Legal Concerns
When filing a case, certain standards must be properly met to have it heard by the court. Timing is of the utmost importance. Having your case properly filled in the correct time frame ensures your claim will be heard, and you will have the chance to have your side properly heard. Just because you did not report your injuries during the accident (or were unaware of them) does not mean there is no evidence your lawyer can collect to support your case. Some of the most common forms of evidence to prove an injury can include medical bills, doctor reports, photos of visible injuries such as bruising, witness statements that corroborate your story, proof of missed work such as timecards, and expert witnesses such as medical professionals and accident reconstruction professionals.
The Importance of Proper Legal Representation
When you have been injured in an automobile accident, you deserve to be made whole. When filing a suit for an injury, having proper legal representation is critical for ensuring you receive what you are rightly owed. There are many advantages to having an experienced attorney in your corner. Some of the key advantages include the following.
- Proper Paperwork Filing: filing an injury lawsuit involves many steps. As noted above, there are time limits involved in filing an injury claim. While two years for an injury and three years for property damage may seem like a long time, this is not necessarily the case. Collecting proper evidence and recovery can take time, as can the overall filing process and the many steps involved. Plus, other proper documentation has to be properly filed with the state, which your attorney can properly oversee.
- Building a Case: a key component of a suit is having supporting evidence. Your attorney can collect important information proving your side of the story such as police reports, witness statements, video footage, expert recreation, expert witnesses, and more. They have experience in evidence collection and finding outside experts to support your claims and lead to a fair judgment.
- Knowing Your Case Is In Good Hands: when you’ve been injured there are things you need to focus on, such as your recovery and other personal responsibilities or needs. When you hire a lawyer you can rest easier knowing your case is being properly managed by a professional. This allows you to focus on recovery while still staying informed about the status of your case.
- Support: Automobile accidents are stressful events, and having support can help you manage the overall process. Your lawyer knows what needs to be done to file your case timely and allow your voice to be heard before the court. They also support you by informing you about any questions you may have about the process and keeping you informed on the status of your case. Just knowing what’s going on and what to expect makes the entire process far less stressful.
Final Thoughts
Automobile injuries can be unpredictable and in some cases, injuries can lead to long-lasting lifestyle changes. When you are hurt it can be hard knowing where to start. Hiring legal representation ensures that your claim is filed while you are still able to receive compensation and also that this is done correctly. Your lawyer will also handle the collection of evidence, scheduling, and communication with insurance providers. With someone on your side representing your rights, you can focus on the most important part of the process: your overall well-being and recovery.
