How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear, and Why Do You Need a South Bend Car Accident Lawyer?

Car accidents are unfortunate fact of life in South Bend, which saw 3,617 collisions in 2022 alone, and the injuries they inflict may not always be obvious, but a knowledgeable attorney could increase your chances of securing the resources necessary to become whole again. How long after a car accident can injuries appear, and why […]

January 10, 2025

Some Car Accident Injuries May Take Time to Emerge

Every car accident is unique, and the injuries incurred are unique as well. Nevertheless, the vast majority of car accident injuries either make themselves known right away or within days of the accident, especially when it comes to extreme injuries that can be easily observed. If you break an arm or a leg, you will probably suspect that something is terribly wrong with it almost immediately, and those suspicions could quickly be confirmed with a simple x-ray at the emergency room.

Yet some car accident injuries may take time to emerge or be harder to diagnose. For instance, a post-traumatic lumbar or cervical herniated disc might initially be dismissed as back strain or whiplash, something to be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, bedrest, or potentially physical therapy in more severe cases. It is only when the symptoms fail to improve over the course of the weeks or months that follow that your physician may decide to order tests that can accurately assess the graver underlying condition, which could end up demanding more extensive medical interventions like surgery.

While it is good that you can finally receive the care that you require, you could be left entirely on your own to deal with the costs of that care if you have already accepted a “generous” offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company for what you had believed was just minor trauma.

And make no mistake: the speed with which an offer may be extended after an accident is not itself an accident. Insurance adjusters have a strong incentive to save their employers money and will exploit your relative inexperience to resolve your claim as cheaply as possible, and you can’t go back and ask them for more once you sign on the dotted line.

How a South Bend Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Regardless of when your car accident injuries appear, insurance carriers tend to have the upper hand whenever you attempt to negotiate with them by yourself, but you can regain the upper hand by partnering with a South Bend car accident attorney.

This may be your first car accident, but it won’t be the first for a skilled lawyer, who will be better equipped to meet the insurer on a level playing field. He or she can determine what your case is really worth and will strive to equal or exceed that figure, which is a key reason why personal injury victims with attorneys obtain 3.5 times more on average than personal injury victims without them.

A capable South Bend car accident lawyer will begin by conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify each of the parties who contributed to your injuries, then establish valid claims against them all within the time allotted by law. If the situation warrants it, a lawsuit could also be filed in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

Next, your attorney will amass the materials to support your allegations, such as:

Police reports

Citations and dispositions

Witness statements

Photos and videos

Black box data

Phone records

Driving histories

Maintenance logs

Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

After putting together a rock-solid case, your lawyer will work tirelessly to get you compensated for the totality of your losses, including your:

Past, present, and future medical bills

Diminished earning capacity

Pain and suffering

Mental and emotional impairment

Mobility restrictions

Reduced quality of living

Loss of consortium

Punitive damages (when applicable)

When confronted with indisputable evidence of vehicular negligence, a sensible adjuster may opt to tender a fair settlement rather than risk a worse verdict at trial. However, a seasoned attorney will become indispensable if a trial takes place, since plaintiffs who represent themselves in the courtroom lose about 96 percent of their cases, whereas plaintiffs are favored to win when they retain professional representation.

Reach Out to Hensley’s South Bend Car Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been standing up for the seriously injured for more than 25 years. If your world has been turned upside down by the thoughtless acts of a thoughtless actor, reach out to Hensley’s South Bend car accident lawyers to get the compensation that you deserve.

You can schedule a free consultation with a dedicated South Bend car accident attorney by calling us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form today.