Although the accident totaled your car, you felt lucky to walk away from the wreckage with aches and pains but no broken bones. Some people file an insurance claim believing that the insurance company will cover the damage to the vehicle, and that will be the end of the matter.
Do not make this mistake and miss out on the compensation you need to cover your losses.
Suffering delayed injury symptoms
Everything happened so quickly, you did not have time to process every detail. Not only that, your body reacts to the sudden violence of a crash by flooding your system with adrenaline. As a result, you may not know until later that you suffered a life-altering brain injury.
It is possible to get a concussion without knowing it, even if you did not hit your head. The violent impact that typically causes tissue damage in the neck and back may also have sent your brain crashing against the inside of your skull. Torn blood vessels and bruised tissue within the skull often cause a buildup of pressure that can lead to a secondary brain injury in the days or even weeks following the accident. As torn blood vessels heal, the clots that form can shift rather than disintegrating, causing a stroke.
If you did not seek medical attention immediately after the accident, you should do so in the near future.
Missing the statute of limitations
The law in Alabama will only allow you to file a lawsuit against a negligent party within two years of the accident. This may seem like a long time, but while you are waiting on the insurance company and pending investigations and taking care of your ongoing medical issues, months can slip by.
Meanwhile, crucial evidence may disappear, and witnesses may no longer be available. It is a good idea to explore legal options right away so that you do not suffer financially for someone else’s negligence.
