Soft tissue injuries like whiplash are common in car accidents, but did you know concussions are, too? Most people think of concussions as a sports-related injury for high impact activities like football or hockey, but anytime a person’s head is shaken or jerked it can lead to a concussion. Even at slow rates of speed, the impact of a collision can jostle the brain enough to result in a concussion.
If you suspect a concussion after a car accident, what should you do?
In addition to promptly seeking medical treatment, you should also contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney. Concussions are serious injuries that can lead to long-term effects and costly medical treatment. Rather than enduring the back-and-forth of insurance negotiations, allow an experienced attorney to advocate for the compensation you deserve while you focus on taking care of yourself during recovery.
Here is a quick overview of concussions including symptoms to look for, the importance of medical treatment, and how to seek compensation for your injuries.
Concussions are not always obvious, as there may not be any immediate symptoms. In fact, symptoms may not appear until a few days to a few weeks after the trauma or may never manifest at all. In cases where a concussion is apparent, immediate symptoms may include confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, nausea, head and neck pain, or fatigue. However, symptoms vary, and therefore, any behavior change or abnormal feeling after head trauma should be considered as a possible sign of a concussion and immediate medical attention is necessary.
Sometimes, a mild concussion can be treated with physical and mental rest while the individual symptoms, such as a headache, are treated separately with medication. However, in severe cases, rehabilitation or physical therapy may be necessary to help the brain recover from the concussion. Brain damage can result in lost connections, requiring the brain to re-learn important functions related to memory, speech, and performing simple tasks.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. Even a mild concussion must be taken seriously, given immediate medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment. Regardless of whether there are obvious symptoms, a medical evaluation should happen within a few days of the trauma even when emergency care is not warranted. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, concussions can result in ongoing complications including post-concussive syndrome and permanent brain damage.
In addition to recovering your medical costs, you may also be entitled to lost wages and compensation for related pain and suffering. While the medical costs of treating a concussion can be significant, the impact to your life can also be substantial. This is why it is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney to advocate for you, so that you can recover the full financial compensation you deserve.
Contact Natasha Misra Law today to schedule a free consultation.
Accidents can be overwhelming. Not only are you shaken, but you must worry about your health, your safety, and your damaged vehicle. Should you try and drive the vehicle home? Call a tow truck? Let the police have it hauled away? Here is some basic information about what you should do if your vehicle has been damaged in an accident.
As evidence of the accident, cars must be carefully preserved until any accident reports and insurance investigations are complete. To determine fault and assess damages for insurance claims, the insurance companies of all involved drivers will complete an independent damage assessment of the affected vehicles.
Typically, cars that are not drivable from the scene of an accident are towed to an impound lot, tow lot, collision center, auto body shop or home. With the exception of your home, the vehicle is usually accumulating daily storage fees at these locations. Until all assessments and any investigations are complete by the insurance companies, it is important that the vehicles are not altered, repaired, or moved more than necessary.
If the vehicle is deemed a total loss as a result of the insurance investigation, then the insurance company may arrange to pick it up. If the insurance investigation concludes that the vehicle is repairable, then the vehicle repairs may begin at a collision center or auto body shop.
The short answer is yes. If your vehicle is not operable, it should be towed to an impound lot, tow lot, collision center, auto body shop, or it can even be towed home to your driveway if you prefer. If you choose not to tow an inoperable vehicle and leave it near the accident scene, local laws will determine how quickly police have the vehicle towed when you do not return for it. It will then be your responsibility to pay the towing fees, storage fees, and other costs.
While you may have to bear the initial costs for towing and storage, ultimately the responsibility for the expense will fall on the insurance company for at fault driver. Even if you believe another driver is at fault and will have to pay for your towing and storage fees, it is important to have the vehicle towed at a reasonable cost and remove the vehicle from storage as soon as appropriate to mitigate damages.
First, before you move the vehicle it is important to take photos of the accident scene including your car, the other vehicles, and your surroundings. This will be important evidence for insurance claims. The other driver's insurance company will likely want to see the vehicle to perform an independent damage assessment; however, these scene photos will save you from the risk of insurance adjusters questioning whether damage came from the accident or a subsequent event during transportation or storage.
Accidents lead to a lot of back-and-forth insurance negotiations and confusing policy language. An experienced car accident attorney can help lessen the burden of figuring out what specific steps you need to take after an accident. From figuring out how to store your car after an accident to negotiating the insurance settlement you deserve, a personal injury attorney can help make the process a little less stressful. Natasha Misra Law helps with the repair or replacement of your car at no additional cost to you.
Contact Milwaukee personal injury attorney Natasha Misra Law today.
My law practice is dedicated to helping people who have suffered injuries in accidents which were not their fault. Born and raised in Milwaukee, I come from a family of medical professionals. My background and experience help me understand and represent individuals injured in accidents.
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
