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.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, most vehicles depreciate twenty-percent within the first year. If your vehicle is totaled in an accident, auto insurance will likely cover the value of the vehicle at the time of the accident. But, what if the value is less than what you still owe on your auto loan?
Gap insurance covers what your standard auto policy does not. Rather than being left to make loan payments on a vehicle you cannot drive, gap insurance makes sure your auto loan is paid off.
So, what exactly is gap insurance, and do you need it? Here we explain how standard insurance policies handle totaled vehicles and how gap insurance works.
Yes, auto insurance will cover your totaled car, but coverage is based on the current value of the vehicle, not the remaining balance on your auto loan which includes interest. Generally, auto insurance providers total a vehicle if the cost of repairs exceeds the actual cash value of the vehicle. If you have an outstanding auto loan on the vehicle, the insurance reimbursement will go directly to your loan provider who is the lienholder of the vehicle.
Because cars depreciate over time, it is not uncommon for this to happen. Auto insurance will make a payment to the lender for the depreciated value of the vehicle. If this is less than the outstanding balance on the loan, you will be responsible for continuing payments out-of-pocket until the loan has been paid in full, unless you have gap insurance.
If your car is stolen or totaled in an accident and you owe more than the car’s value at the time of the loss, gap insurance covers the difference between the value of the car and the remaining balance on the auto loan. Gap insurance is intended to protect you from having to make payments on a car you can no longer use. Many dealerships offer gap insurance, but it is also available as an add-on through many insurance providers.
For example, gap insurance from Toyota Financial Services (TFS) will either waive or pay the deficiency balance, or the difference between what is owed on the vehicle and what the insurance company will pay if the vehicle is declared a total loss. So, if you owe $23,000 on your vehicle and receive $20,000 from the auto insurance company, you would be responsible for $3,000 out-of-pocket. However, gap coverage from TFS would cover this $3,000 balance.
Yes, a car accident attorney will make sure your gap insurance is appropriately applied to resolve any remaining balance on your auto loan. Save yourself the headache of the back-and-forth with your loan provider and insurance company and 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.
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