After your car accident, your life might seem to be spinning out of control. All you want to do is get back to normal as fast as you can. But many times, the recovery process takes longer than we anticipate. The initial shock and grief can turn into several months or longer of pain and anger.
This is nothing to be ashamed of. As an accident victim, you should never ignore the pain in your body. It is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong.
At Gould Injury Law, we understand what you are going through. Not only do you want to recover from your injuries fast, but you also want to receive compensation even faster. The world does not slow down after an accident, but that’s where we come in. Gould Injury Law’s experienced and tough personal injury attorneys are pros – and fast – at navigating the complex legal system. We will not slow down until you are resting comfortably knowing you have the compensation you deserve.
Call Gould Injury Law today at 888-WIN-FAST. We work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay unless you win.
Will This Pain Ever Go Away?
Every year, thousands of Connecticut residents are seriously hurt in car accidents. After experiencing the initial trauma of the accident, you might not feel the pain right away. That is the body’s way of handling shock; your adrenaline will be pumping and could negate some of the initial symptoms. Some people even walk away from an accident thinking they are fine, only for injuries to rear their ugly heads later.
You should understand that feeling pain is a normal part of the process. You may want a fast recovery, but the amount of pain and soreness you feel may stick around, depending on a variety of factors.
Your pain and soreness could depend on:
- Where you were positioned in your vehicle
- The side or part of the vehicle was hit
- The safety features in your vehicle
- Whether you were wearing your seatbelt at the time
- How fast you and the other vehicle were going
- The size of each vehicle involved in the collision
- Any pre-existing injuries or health complications you may have had
- Whether your airbags went off
There is no way to know how long you will experience pain symptoms. You may be dealing with your injury short-term or long-term. Your doctor may be able to estimate how long you might be out of action, but every individual experiences pain differently. You might only feel minor pain though you have a serious injury that takes a long time and extensive effort to treat.
If you want to recover faster, always follow your doctor’s orders. Keep track of how you feel, and be sure to follow up on medical treatment whenever necessary.
What to Do When Pain Seems to Come Out of Nowhere
As we already established, some pain symptoms may be delayed and seem to come out of nowhere. This is a delayed response from your body. Some accident victims walk away from a collision without feeling a single pain in their bodies. When they wake up a day or two later, though, they may feel the full impact on every bone and muscle.
If you put off seeing a doctor and now feel the pain, you should make an appointment as fast as you can. Just because the pain did not set in right away does not mean your injuries are not serious. This is especially true if multiple symptoms suddenly develop. For example, neck pain might be a normal response, but fever on top of the pain could be a sign that something else is going on.
Do not be afraid to track your symptoms and seek medical attention. Your doctor may be able to prescribe fast-acting pain medications to help curb the pain that you feel. Even if you think some neck stiffness is normal, it would be wise to seek compensation for your condition. Having a record of those injuries will go a long way in negotiating a fair settlement.
Common Injuries After a Car Accident
Car accidents happen fast. All it takes is a few seconds to alter your life forever. These types of sudden impacts can do strange things to the human body. Among even the most common car accident injuries, some people walk away without a scratch, while others may be left with devastating consequences. Please note the following conditions.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the more common auto accident-related health concerns. They are especially common in the case of rear-end accidents but can happen regardless of the angle of the collision.
At the moment of impact, your body is going to surge forward at a fast pace. If you are wearing a seatbelt, it will grab and hold you in place while your head still whips forward. This sudden movement puts immense strain on your neck and back, which is essentially whiplash.
Unfortunately, whiplash injuries are notorious for not being felt until several days or even weeks later. Thus, you should seek fast medical attention before your soreness worsens to the point of feeling intense pain.
Sprains and strains
Most people know what a strained muscle feels like. It can be an intense soreness caused by overexertion. After a car accident, you will likely feel this irritation for a long time.
In a collision and while recovering, your body may be forced to move in a variety of unnatural positions, causing muscles and tendons to tear or be stretched. Most sprains and strains will heal on their own over time, but you should never neglect to see a doctor. Some injuries you think to be minor strains could actually be torn ligaments that require extra care.
Traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe consequences of car accidents. With all the sudden movements your body makes at the point of impact, it is likely that you are going to hit your head – perhaps against a window in a side-impact collision or against the steering wheel in a rear-end accident.
Traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of death among all car accidents. Harm to the head can cause bleeding, tissue tears, bruising, and other damage to and around the brain.
Mild traumatic brain injury symptoms can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Speech problems
Traumatic brain issues can also cause mental, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, such as:
- Memory or concentration issues
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Being in a dazed or confused state
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can be a worsening of these symptoms. If that happens, you should seek fast medical attention.
Spinal cord injuries
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. These injuries can feel a little different than other types of pain. Instead, you might feel a pinch or pressure. Even if you only feel a little soreness in your back, it is still a good idea to get checked out.
If you experience any of these medical issues or any others, be sure to get in touch with Gould Injury Law right away. We can direct you to the right doctor and help you get the fast compensation you need to cover your medical bills.
What You Should Do After Being Injured in a Car Accident
Any kind of pain at all indicates that you were injured. You must get checked out by a medical professional. The sooner you get checked out, the better shape you will be in the long run. Sadly, too many people are stubborn and think they can tough it out.
Waiting to see a doctor or refusing any medical care at all can have two major consequences:
- Accident victims risk hurting themselves further, causing a delay in healing
- The insurance adjuster may deny you the fair amount of money you need for recovery
The initial adrenaline and shock of the accident can mask your pain, so you should still see a doctor even when you don’t feel hurt. Seeking medical treatment right away also strengthens your potential legal claim. Any medical records you can show will impact your personal injury case. Without a sufficient record of injuries, the insurance company can say you caused your own injuries.
It is also important to keep up to date with your doctor. If he recommends physical therapy, you should do it. If he wants follow-up visits, go as often as possible. Follow whatever recovery plan he offers you. That includes getting the necessary rest you need for recovery.
Do not push yourself by trying to get back to work as fast as you can. It will only hurt you in the long run.
How to Handle Chronic Pain After a Car Accident
In many instances, a car accident victim follows a doctor’s recovery plan but does not get better very fast. Chronic pain can persist for months and potentially years after an accident. Problems like slipped or bulging discs or nerve issues rarely get better on their own. All you want is to get better as quickly as you can, so you may feel frustrated.
Please be assured, you can be compensated for the pain. Pain and suffering are categorized as non-economic costs, which can be difficult to quantify, but may be worth the fight to receive. Your personal injury lawyer will be able to estimate how much you are owed by the existing factors in your case.
Your attorney may consider:
- The level of your pain
- How long you have dealt with your pain
- The types and levels of pain you are feeling
- Whether your doctor can reasonably treat your pain
- How your pain impacts your everyday life
- If your pain reduces your quality of life
What Types of Fast Compensation Can You Receive?
Your personal injury lawyer will be able to evaluate your case and determine what you are owed, based on how your pain impacts your quality of life. When it comes to accident cases, pain can be worth quite a bit of money.
Of course, you would rather make a fast recovery, but that is not often something you have control over. Instead, you can seek compensation for the losses you experienced. The common types of compensation you can receive include the following.
Lost wages
Any type of pain, especially after a personal injury, can prevent you from doing your job. Sitting at home can be frustrating. You have bills to pay and a family to take care of. Thankfully, a personal injury claim or lawsuit can help you recover all the wages you lost due to your accident.
Medical bills
Recovery after an accident comes neither fast nor easily. You could spend days or weeks in the hospital and require multiple surgeries. Treatment, medications, rehabilitation, and physical therapy all cost money. We’re talking tens of thousands of dollars on top of all your other bills.
Medical bills have bankrupted too many people, but you do not have to worry about that. Your lawyer can help you get these bills paid by seeking fair, fast compensation.
Pain and suffering
The pain and suffering you experience due to someone else’s negligence are major contributing factors in your case. Your lawyer with Gould Injury Law will be able to determine how much this is worth.
Mental anguish
Along with physiological pain, you may suffer psychologically as well. It is not uncommon to face anxiety, depression, and PTSD after a car accident. You may never want to drive a car again. The mental anguish you experience may require treatment. The good news is that you can be compensated for this as well.
Loss of enjoyment of life
One reason why people want a fast recovery is to get back to their lives. After an accident, you may not be able to do the things you loved to do. This is especially true if you were an active person prior to the collision. Not only will you lose out on work, but you will likely spend plenty of time in bed recovering.
Call Gould Injury Law Today
Proving you are in pain is a difficult process. The insurance company is not your friend. Rather, they will try to downplay your pain so they can pay out as little as possible. That is why it is so important you see a doctor and seek treatment.
You should also call Gould Injury Law as soon as possible. You deserve fast and fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Our experienced attorneys can do all the legal work on your behalf while you simply focus on making a full recovery.
Call Gould Injury Lawyers today at (888) WIN-FAST. Our team of attorneys is available to take your call 24/7. There is no fee unless you win.
