Preempting Delayed Injury Complications In An Auto Accident Claim

Delayed injuries can complicate your auto accident claim, but it doesn't have to be that way. Below are a few tips you can use to preempt such complications.

Don't Say You Are Okay

One of the worst mistakes you can make is to say that you are okay. By saying that you are okay, you are acknowledging that you don't have any injuries that deserve compensation. You can't say you are okay today only to claim injury damages a few days later. You will have a hard time convincing the court or defendant that the injuries originated from the accident.  

Don't Accept Cash at the Scene

Don't accept a cash offer from the liable party, however tempting it is. You might not know how injured you are immediately after the crash. For one, some accidents show up much later after the accident. Secondly, some injuries don't produce physical or visible symptoms.

By accepting cash at the accident scene, you admit that the liable party has compensated your injuries. You will have a hard time getting compensation for injuries that might show up days or weeks after the crash.

Seek Medical Care

Another tip is to seek medical care as soon as possible. A medical examination may help you diagnose hidden injuries that you wouldn't otherwise know about. The medical examination will also establish your injuries and connect them to the auto accident.

Consider the example of two auto accident victims who, unbeknownst to them, sustain internal injuries in an auto accident. The first victim gets immediate medical care while the second one opts for home remedies. If both victims file auto accident claims, the second victim is more likely to face complications than the first. For the second victim, the defendant can easily argue that the injuries arose elsewhere.

Wait for MMI

Don't file your injury claim until you reach your maximum medical improvement (MMI). Your MMI is the point at which your doctor doesn't expect any further medical improvement. The MMI doesn't mean that you are fully recovered — you can reach MMI even with a permanent disfigurement or disability.

Waiting for MMI is crucial because, by then, you will be aware of every health problem you sustained in the accident. Reaching the MMI means you don't have any more hidden injuries and that all the delayed injuries have manifested themselves.

In addition to all the above tips, don't forget to consult an auto accident lawyer. Getting a lawyer as early as possible can help you deal with all complications in your case, including complications related to delayed injuries.

To learn more, contact an auto accident lawyer.


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