What to Expect After a Car Accident

What to Expect After a Car Accident

• October 8, 2024
• Categories: Vehicle Accidents

Being involved in a car accident is not as improbable as you might think. There are around 4,000 fatalities on California roads every year, and thousands more people are injured in car accidents. With this in mind, you should educate yourself about what to expect after an accident so that you’re ready to take appropriate action when the time comes.

The vehicle accident lawyers at Neale & Fhima have handled thousands of accident cases, and we’ve used this experience to write this blog and share our suggestions what you should do in the aftermath of a car accident. If you are looking for answers to specific questions not addressed here, or if you have already been involved in an accident and need legal advice, please contact our office.

Three Challenges Facing Car Accident Victims

Your time and energy will be in short supply after a car crash, and you won’t want to be dealing with relatively inconsequential matters. The following issues have the most potential to impact your well-being (for better or worse), so addressing each of them should be a priority.

• Physical trauma: Nothing is more important than seeking medical treatment after a car crash. The initial shock of the accident will cause your body to release adrenaline, which can mask the symptoms of injuries that would otherwise be immediately apparent. Avoiding or delaying treatment will also make it more difficult to obtain compensation from the at-fault driver.
• Psychological distress: Car accidents can leave emotional scars that are every bit as debilitating as physical injuries. Victims may find themselves unable to get behind the wheel of a car, especially if they will be driving in conditions similar to those that existed at the time of their accident. You may also experience more generalized problems, like anxiety, hypervigilance, or insomnia.
• Financial hardship: Unlike physical and emotional harm, the financial repercussions of an accident are easy to quantify. But they can also be the most difficult to overcome. Even if you’re fortunate enough to have quality medical insurance coverage, you can fall into debt quickly if you’re unable to return to work.

The Insurance Adjuster is Not Your Friend

Insurance companies do a masterful job of shaping public opinion regarding their services. They employ some of the catchiest advertising slogans ever devised, telling people they will be “in good hands” after an accident, or that the adjuster will act “like a good neighbor.”

Unfortunately, none of this holds true if you’re an accident victim dealing with another driver’s insurance company. The adjuster’s only goal in this situation is to pay you as little as possible.

Never give a statement or sign documents to an insurance company without seeking legal advice first. In fact, beyond exchanging contact information, it is best to avoid communicating with the adjuster altogether.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Road accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries, but there are some that arise time and again. The following are among the most common health issues we see in car crash clients:

• Whiplash: This is a neck injury that occurs due to rapid back-and-forth movement of the head and neck, which is particularly common in rear-end collisions. While studies show that it can be difficult to identify the specific source of whiplash, it’s a highly debilitating condition that affects a large percentage of car accident victims.
• Concussions: A type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, which can range from mild to severe.
• Broken bones: Arms, legs, ribs, and hips are particularly vulnerable to fractures in car accidents.
• Lacerations and bruises: Sharp objects, broken glass, and the force of impact can cause cuts and bruising.
• Internal injuries: The force of a car crash can cause internal bleeding and damage to organs.
• Spinal cord injuries: Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal, potentially leading to lasting strength, sensation, and other body function issues below the site of the injury.
• Psychological trauma: Beyond physical injuries, car accidents can lead to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

Consulting a Personal Injury Lawyer Makes Sense

Deciding whether to hire an attorney is a decision every car accident victim must make. If your accident only resulted in property damage, hiring a law firm to assist with the settlement may not be necessary. But if you were hurt in the crash, and your injuries were serious enough to require medical attention, contacting Neale & Fhima is the right thing to do. Here’s why:

• The consultation is free, confidential, and does not obligate you to hire our firm.
• Unlike the other driver’s insurance adjuster, our loyalty is to you and to no one else.
• If we do not believe our services will result in your collecting more money for your claim, we will tell you so.
• We can take immediate action to preserve evidence to prove the other driver was at fault.
• Should you decide to hire our firm, we will handle all legal matters on your behalf, so you can focus on your recovery.

Do not risk your future by driving the streets of Southern California unprepared for an accident. Make sure you have Neale & Fhima’s contact information handy. We have offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. You can reach us by phone at 888-407-2955 or by using the form below.