Every year, there are more than six million reported car accidents. Statistically speaking, this means everyone can expect to be involved in at least one accident in their lifetime. Most of the time, these accidents aren’t too serious. However, every year, there are about 4,300,000 car crash related injuries that require medical attention. To put that in perspective, only unintentional falls had more people hospitalized in 2020.
There are two types of common car injuries, onsite and long term. Knowing about both kinds of injuries and how to deal with them will not only help with taking care of yourself, but also with dealing with the insurance agency.
Onsite Injuries
Onsite injuries are the kind of injury that are easier to deal with at the moment, however they can also be the most severe. Following a car accident, broken bones, burns, bleeding, and severe bruising are injuries that get taken care of immediately, either onsite or at the hospital.
These injuries are generally very easy to claim to an insurance agency and almost never get because there is little to no argument to it being a pre-existing condition.
Long Term Injuries
While onsite injuries are easy to claim and identify, long term injuries are much more difficult. These kinds of injuries can include tissue injuries, bone bruising, and spinal injuries and neck injuries that are often thought to be soreness following an accident.
The reason these injuries are difficult to claim is because most of the time, these injuries do not require medical attention at the scene of the crash. Quite often, the adrenaline of the accident leaves the victims not feeling much pain or the need to go to the doctor. Even if there is pain for days after, many believe that the pain will go away after a few days or weeks.
When this happens, it can be a bit more difficult to make a claim since it may be days or weeks following the accident, opening up the possibility of it happening after or being a pre-existing injury.
What to do to Report a Long Term Injury
If you want to play it safe, it is always a good idea to go to the doctor as soon as possible following a car accident. During this appointment, report everything, even if you are almost certain that the soreness will go away after a day or two.
At worst, you appear over cautious to the doctor. However, if by some chance the soreness gets worse or does not go away, it’s on record and can be used as evidence in the insurance claim.
Taking note of every discomfort in your body following the appointment is just as important. Again, the worst case scenario here is to have zero evidence or written notes after filing an injury claim three weeks after the accident.
Having written evidence, a medical note, and other witnesses of your injuries will help your coverage later, should you need surgery or long term treatments.
Filing a Claim
Long term and onsite injuries need to be reported to the insurance agency. Getting this claim in as soon as possible will lead to a higher chance of winning a full claim reward. Delaying the claim will allow for more questions, doubts, and hesitancy from the insurance.
If you do all of this, but still get denied, or win less than you believe you deserve, getting an attorney involved can be beneficial. Lawyers are professionals and know exactly how to deal with the insurance agencies. Having the evidence of a doctor’s appointment and notes will likely give the attorney all the information they need to help you win your claim.
If you are unhappy with the verdict of your claim, you can always appeal and present more evidence in an attempt to earn what you deserve.
