Vehicle accidents occur regularly in West Virginia. In many cases, these accidents lead to severe injuries for those involved. However, there are times when minor car accidents occur, leaving drivers wondering whether or not they should even bother reporting the incident, much less contact a car accident attorney. However, minor car accidents can lead to major expenses. Here, we want to discuss some scenarios where you may need to reach out to an attorney after a seemingly minor vehicle accident occurs.
Minor Vehicle Accidents – Major Injury Expenses
It is important to understand that the signs and symptoms of many car accident injuries do not appear until hours or days after an accident occurs. Sometimes, passengers and drivers involved in a crash feel fine at the scene of the incident, only to later realize that they have sustained some sort of major hidden injury. This occurs most often with traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding. The adrenaline that courses through our bodies after a crash occurs can mask major injuries.
If you have discovered, in the days or weeks that follow a vehicle accident, that your injuries are worse than you thought, you really may need to speak to a lawyer to help you with your case. When individuals pass on receiving medical care immediately following the crash, this can create significant complications when it comes to securing insurance coverage from the at-fault party. The insurance carrier of the at-fault driver may try to say that your injuries did not really occur in the crash if you did not seek immediate medical care. This can be a problem when it comes to receiving compensation for the medical bills that start coming in.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can work to link the injuries you have sustained to the vehicle accident, even if you did not receive immediate medical care after the initial collision.
The Insurance Carrier Refuses to Pay
After a minor vehicle accident, individuals still may have bills that rise into the thousands of dollars. For example, even minor injuries can lead to major medical expenses. Because it is always a good idea to get checked out after a vehicle accident, it may be necessary for health care professionals to perform X-rays, MRIs, or other types of testing to rule out any major injuries. This can lead to major expenses for victims.
Additionally, property damage to a vehicle can lead to major expenses. Even a relatively minor accident can lead to major damage to the body of a vehicle that results in thousands of dollars worth of repair bills.
In these scenarios, it is not uncommon for insurance carriers to put up a fight to prevent them from having to pay out any compensation. If an insurance carrier offers an unreasonably low settlement amount or even refuses to pay for a claim altogether, it may be necessary to involve an attorney.
A Skilled Attorney Has Resources
A skilled lawyer in Martinsburg, West Virginia will have the resources necessary to handle every aspect of these claims. Even seemingly minor vehicle accidents can lead to major medical and property damage expenses. An attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove liability, handle all negotiations with insurance carriers, and help ensure that their client recovers the compensation they are entitled to.
