If you’ve recently been involved in an accident but feel like you haven’t been injured, you might be tempted to move on and forget about it. It can be a hassle to deal with hospitals and lawsuits, and if you feel fine, you might not see the point. But how you feel right now may not reflect how you’ll feel in a few weeks or next month.
Just because the pain hasn’t hit doesn’t mean the damage doesn’t exist. Some injury symptoms don’t show up immediately, and discussing your situation with a lawyer early on can make the difference between getting compensated or having to pay for someone else’s negligence.
Injuries aren’t always immediately apparent
One of the most dangerous assumptions you can make is thinking you’re not injured because you’re not in pain right now. This isn’t an excuse to file a lawsuit when you aren’t injured – it’s a legitimate phenomenon.
Soft tissue injuries, in particular, take time to develop. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can sometimes take days or weeks to present symptoms, especially in mild cases. Whiplash, sprains, and bruising also show up over time. Get checked out now, even if you don’t show symptoms. Without early documentation, it will be harder to prove your injury was caused by the accident.
There’s another reason you might not feel hurt. Right after a traumatic experience, your body is flooded with adrenaline. This can block pain and make you feel like you’re fine.
If you wait to seek medical help and later realize you’re injured, the insurance company will argue that your injury was caused by something else. By seeking medical care right away, you’re establishing a foundation that will help you prove causation.
Insurance companies are not on your side
If there’s even a slight chance that you’ve been injured, talking to a lawyer puts you in a position to deal with insurance companies, should you come to realize you’re not okay. By consulting an attorney early on, you’ll be advised on what to do if you’re contacted by an insurance adjuster, and you’ll have someone to negotiate on your behalf.
If an insurance company wants to pay you a settlement even though you aren’t feeling injured, wait. Don’t sign any paperwork until you talk to a lawyer. It might seem like the insurance company is being generous by wanting to pay you, but if you accept a settlement, that’s all you’ll get – forever. Signing on that dotted line waives your right to file a lawsuit or ask for more compensation.
Documentation is stronger when started early
If you consult with a personal injury attorney, one of the first things they’ll tell you to do is start compiling your documentation. The more you gather early, the better. Every day you wait will make it harder to prove what happened. A lawyer will not only advise you to start collecting evidence, but they will help you build a solid paper trail.
Even if you don’t feel hurt at the moment, take photos of any related damage to property, your vehicle, and even your own body. For example, if you ended up with some minor cuts, take photos of those immediately before they heal.
If there were any witnesses to the accident, get their contact information and ask them for a statement. Don’t give them a chance to forget what they saw.
You might be missing out on compensation
Many people assume a personal injury lawsuit is just about medical bills. In reality, compensation can go far beyond that. If you’re not concerned because your plan is to just file for bankruptcy or not pay your medical bills should you start feeling the pain, reconsider that position.
If you pursue an injury lawsuit, you might also be entitled to compensation for lost wages, lost future earning potential, future medical costs (like physical therapy and follow-up care), and pain and suffering.
You have nothing to lose by talking to a lawyer
If the reason you’re avoiding a lawyer stems from a lack of funds, you’ll be happy to know that most personal injury lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations.
Most injury attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe them anything unless you win. They’ll take their fees out of your settlement checks automatically and you won’t have to worry about anything.
Don’t wait until it’s too late
Feeling “fine” after an accident doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. You might experience the full impact in days or weeks. Waiting to speak to a lawyer can cost you your legal rights and peace of mind.
Even a quick conversation can help you make the right decisions going forward.
