If your back has been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, filing a personal injury lawsuit may be the only way to pay for the medical expenses and lost wages associated with a serious accident. You’re not alone in that situation; 52% of the personal injury lawsuits filed in the U.S. are in response to auto accidents. But what can you do to increase your chances of getting treated fairly and receiving the compensation you need? These are three of the most important steps you can take.
Call the Police
Immediately after any car accident, no matter how minor it seems, you should call the police. This is important because should a personal injury claim be necessary, all sides will want to see a copy of the police report, including the officer’s opinion of who was at fault in the accident.
There’s an additional factor here as well when it comes to back injuries; because back pain can be difficult to prove medically (whiplash, for example, won’t show up on any medical test), faked back injuries are a favored ruse for scam artists looking to game the system at the expense of unsuspecting drivers. Failing to call the police can make it appear that you’re not aboveboard.
Seek Medical Treatment ASAP
The process of assigning a dollar value to personal injury damages often considers how quickly treatment was sought as a factor in determining the severity of the injury — and thus, the appropriate level of personal injury compensation. A little soreness is normal after a car accident, but if you suspect any back damage whatsoever, you should see an M.D. as soon as possible.
Search for a Back Injury Attorney
Because of the unique challenges of building a strong case around a back injury, working with a back injury attorney, or an auto injury attorney who has handled many clients with back complications, may be useful. Personal injury attorneys are well versed in tort law (of which personal injury law is a part), and can help their clients draft and file all the necessary documents. Out-of-court settlements are the norm with personal injury lawsuits; very few (4%) cases are settled in court, but a lawyer can make this process far more successful if it is necessary.
In the U.S., plaintiffs win auto-related personal injury cases about 61% of the time. Is that higher or lower than you expected? Share your reaction in the comments.