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ChatPicture this: It’s Monday evening and you’re driving to the grocery store to make dinner for your family. After a full day’s work, it’s the last thing you want to do… but you press on! While you’re focusing on driving (and making a mental grocery list), you hear a loud crash and launch forward into your steering wheel! Luckily, your airbag doesn’t go off and you eventually drive away from the scene with nothing more than a dented bumper and cracked back window. You pick up your groceries and make dinner as usual, thinking you left the scene unscathed. Days later, your lower back and shoulders begin to throb, and you find yourself making excuses to avoid getting behind the wheel. In fact, your heart feels like it’s going to escape from your chest when someone even mentions traveling by car. So, what happens after a minor car accident like this?
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we serve our Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities when they are faced with these situations. It’s our job to know the hidden long-term effects minor car accidents cause to best fight for your rights!
Just because you can drive away from the scene doesn’t mean you’ve left unscathed. Pictured above is a past client’s vehicle, drivable after the accident. Learn how one of our attorneys can help you manage bumps. scrapes, dents, and more expensive damages after a minor car accident.
Are you unsure if you need a Massachusetts or Rhode Island minor car accident attorney? Read on to learn more about the hidden long-term effects of minor car accidents. As always, call us anytime for a free and confidential consultation regarding the specifics of your car accident!
1. Medical Expenses – Delayed Onset Injuries, Chronic Pain, and Complications
Many of us know firsthand that medical expenses add up quickly. After a minor car accident, our clients often deal with increased medical expenses… even if not right away.
Consider our grocery store accident scenario. In it, you experience back and shoulder pain days later. Delayed onset injuries are common in both minor and serious car accidents. After a car accident, our bodies release endorphins that naturally prevent our bodies from feeling the full extent of pain. Our adrenaline protects us! However, this can cause you to think you’re okay when you’re not.
Should pain arise after your minor car accident, see a doctor as soon as possible and provide details about the incident. This will help you and your doctor create an effective care plan while your personal injury attorney uses your medical records to demonstrate the value of your case!
Minor car accident victims may also experience chronic pain. Imagine your back constantly hurting for months after your accident. Medical treatments (examinations, physical therapy, injections, etc.) add up!
Medical conditions can also become complicated or otherwise worsen. Imagine you are working on healing a bulging disc in your lower back. Even after chronic pain intervention, you develop a herniated disc that requires expensive surgery. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many minor car accident victims.
If you experience chronic or worsened pain because of a car accident you did not cause, you shouldn’t have to pay for extended and extensive medical care. Instead, focus on healing while a local and experienced personal injury attorney manages your case on your behalf.
2. Emotional and Psychological Injuries
It is common to experience intense emotions after a minor car accident. After all, no one plans to get in a car accident! As such, you may experience stress, anxiety, or intense fear as a result of the actual event. In other cases, victims develop these feelings and more (anger, frustration, isolation, etc.) as a result of their injuries and how their injuries have changed their day-to-day lives.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following after a minor car accident, consult a personal injury attorney about your case:
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble focusing
- Flashbacks to the accident
- Difficulty driving or being in a car
- Depression or PTSD symptoms
Remember that your emotional and psychological health matter just as much as your physical health. Call us with any questions you have about the aftermath of your Rhode Island or Massachusetts car accident.
3. Property Damage
In our hypothetical scenario, you walked away with “only” a damaged bumper and broken back window. However, vehicle repairs are often more costly than they seem.
Even after you shell out thousands to cover your vehicle’s damages, your car will have diminished in value. Meaning, its value will be less than what it was before your minor car accident. Not only that, but even minor car accidents can result in “totaled” vehicles. Should an insurance company deem your car totaled, you have certain rights, state depending. Even after a minor car accident, it is important that you receive optimal repairs and/or the full value of your vehicle. An attorney can help ensure that this happens!
With minor car accidents come hidden long-term effects victims are left to deal with. Don’t face handling your accident alone and call a personal injury law firm like Bottaro Injury Lawyers today!
It’s Good to Know Mike Bottaro – 24/7 Top-Rated Personal Injury Help
At Bottaro Injury Lawyers, we care for people. Attorney Mike Bottaro and his award-winning legal team handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We can even help with cases in other states as well. We pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and results. Contact us 24/7 in any method you prefer for a fast, free, and confidential consultation about your case. Text or call us at 401-777-7777 or fill out our free and confidential online form. We are here to serve and help you!