They say that driving is the most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis, and the statistics back this claim up. Over 36,000 deaths are reported per year from car accidents in the United States alone. Millions of auto accidents per year also result in serious injuries that require medical attention. Car accidents happen due to a wide variety of reasons. Adverse weather conditions make them significantly more likely, but sometimes a car crash can occur simply due to negligence. At other times, collisions may be caused by criminal actions, such as reckless driving or even drunk driving.
Of course, these days, there doesn’t even need to be a driver in the other car for you to have a car accident case on your hands. Check out some statistics on accidents involving Google’s driverless cars, and you’ll see that both a human driver and an advanced Google car can be a danger on the road. If you’ve suffered in a serious car accident, here are a few ways that you can cope, find justice, and move on.
Follow all medical recommendations after the accident.
The first thing anyone should do following a car accident is check for injuries. If you find that you’ve been injured, you’ll need to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you don’t think it’s that serious. Traumatic brain injuries (like a concussion) may have late showing symptoms, for example.
In addition to protecting your personal safety, getting immediate medical care following an automobile accident firmly established medical records that show all of your injuries were sustained in the car accident. If you delay getting medical treatment, it becomes questionable whether the severity of the injuries was, in fact, due to the accident or if you suffered further injuries from another source. Essentially, it would give a defendant the opportunity to discredit your claims.
On the note of medical records, you’ll want to take all medical recommendations seriously and attend your follow-up appointments. This documents that you’re taking your recovery seriously, and the pace of your recovery may be important for your car accident claim later.
Hire a car accident lawyer.
If your insurance company is giving you a hard time about covering your medical bills, or you need to seek damages from an at-fault party following your car accident, you’ll want to hire someone like this car accident attorney in Las Vegas. A law firm with years of experience knows how the insurance system works and will ensure that your claim isn’t unfairly denied. They’ve also helped plenty of accident victims seek fair compensation following serious car accidents, so you’ll have your best chance at a successful outcome.
Just remember that accident attorneys tend to work on a contingency basis, meaning that they’ll only be paid a percentage of your settlement if you win the case. This is what it’s important to bring your medical records with you to the initial consultation. In fact, it’s also a good idea to bring witness statements, photographs of any property damage and injuries suffered, as well as any other relevant evidence to establish that you have a good case.
Look out for your mental health.
Of course, it’s not all about your physical health or seeking compensation after a serious car accident. Such events are extremely traumatic, and they may cause long-lasting psychological and emotional distress. There’s never any shame in seeing a mental health professional following a severe accident to help with any of your needs.
It’s more convenient than ever these days as well, thanks to telehealth services. You can search for therapists online and compare different approaches and qualifications. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, you can even schedule online interviews. If you aren’t up to leaving the house yet, you may be able to find a therapist who will let you keep telehealth appointments as well.