Is It Worth Hiring a Lawyer for a Minor Accident?

Although it’s not always necessary to hire a car accident attorney in Arizona after a minor car accident, doing so can help cover your bases and provide options. Depending on how the accident happened, the extent of the vehicle damage, and any potential injuries, the situation may not be as minor as initially expected. It’s often in your best interest to hire a Phoenix personal injury lawyer even for a seemingly minor accident or fender bender.

The Damage May Be More Extensive Than You Realized

When a driver collides with another vehicle in a small car accident, most drivers will contact the police, exchange insurance information, get a claim filed, and move on with their lives. Unfortunately, the situation is not always that easy. When the at-fault driver is uncooperative or seemingly mild injuries become significant, that “small” car accident can turn into a major legal battle.

Potential Injuries After Minor Car Accidents

After any car accident, including a minor incident, most people feel a rush of adrenaline that prevents them from feeling pain and recognizing injuries. Believing that they are fine, a driver may not see a doctor after an accident. These injuries, which can range from whiplash to soft tissue injuries and chronic pain, are often not discovered until days or even weeks later. Some injuries from auto accidents require long-term treatment, surgeries, or rehabilitation. This can translate into missing significant amounts of work and mounting medical debts. Common injuries after car accidents include:

• Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries, which include sprains and strains, refer to any injury that damages muscles, tendons, or ligaments. These can range from something trivial to a serious injury that requires extensive treatment and results in a permanent reduction of function or range of motion.

• Whiplash

Even low-speed accidents generate an unexpected amount of force. When drivers slam on the brakes or crash into another moving vehicle, the sudden stopping can jerk the neck back forcefully. This results in a very common car accident injury called whiplash. Although a driver may feel pain immediately, in other cases it can take days or weeks to appear. The driver may be left suffering from neck swelling, stiffness, headaches, neck & shoulder pain, numbness, memory loss, and other painful symptoms.

• Head and Brain Injuries

Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries can also occur after even minor accidents if the driver’s head hits the steering wheel, side panel, or other debris. Symptoms of a concussion include headache, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, memory issues, and difficulty processing information. These symptoms may last for weeks and require extensive rehabilitation for the brain to fully heal.

Always Seek Medical Care After a Car Accident

Even if you feel okay immediately after your car accident, it’s recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and traumatic brain injuries may not be noticed until days later but require prompt medical attention and follow-up visits. Medical expenses add up quickly, but that is actually why it’s important to seek medical care even if you don’t think you were injured in the collision.

When you quickly settle an insurance claim and accept payment, you are potentially waiving your ability to pursue further compensation if the situation changes in the weeks following your car accident. Additionally, physician documentation of your injuries is powerful evidence in the event of an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Damages After Car Accidents

If another driver is found to be at fault in an accident that caused physical injury or vehicle damage, you should not handle those expenses on your own. Instead, talk with your Phoenix personal injury attorney and insurance agent to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

You may be eligible for compensation for economic damages, including:

• Medical bills such as hospital and doctor visits, imaging, medications, equipment, physical therapy, counseling
• Lost wages, tips, bonuses, and promotions if your injuries have prevented you from working
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Ongoing care needs, if applicable

Additionally, you may also be eligible for compensation for non-economic damages, which refer to intangible losses, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish resulting from your injuries, medical treatments, or the car accident itself
• Loss of enjoyment of activities as a result of reduced physical function

Consult With an Experienced Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer Today

It’s always worth consulting with a Phoenix auto accident attorney after any car accident, even if it seems insignificant. But don’t delay – Arizona’s statute of limitations limits the time you have to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your losses and damages.

This article is courtesy of the Las Vegas car accident attorneys at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers LLC, Nevada’s leading injury law firm with years of experience helping the victims of car accidents receive the compensation they deserve.