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If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. This is true even if your injuries are relatively minor. Even a couple of diagnostic tests could cost you thousands of dollars, so the value of minor injury car accident settlements could be more than you realize.
Additionally, some injury symptoms might not be present immediately and could take time to develop. It could be days or weeks before you fully understand the extent of your injuries. For that reason, it is important not to settle your case too early. Once you know your prognosis, your lawyer can explain how much compensation you could seek.
When Is an Injury Case Worth Pursuing?
If your injuries seem minor, it is understandable to wonder if it is worth pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. While that is your decision to make, the cost of treating even minor injuries could be significant. A single visit to the emergency room or hospital—no matter how brief—could be costly. This is especially true if you lack health insurance.
Before you assume your injuries are minor, be sure to seek out the advice of a doctor. Your doctor could carefully evaluate your symptoms and help you understand the extent of your injuries. In many cases, they could prevent your condition from worsening.
Ultimately, a personal injury attorney serving Georgia or South Carolina could review your case and help you understand if an injury lawsuit is warranted. Your attorney could review not only your damages resulting from the accident but also determine who was at fault.
Following Your Treatment Plan Is Important
One of the most important ways to protect your potential settlement after a minor injury is by following your doctor’s directions. Securing fair compensation for your injuries requires that you follow the treatment plan set out by your doctor. Should you fail to do so, your injuries could get worse while your chance of recovering the damages you deserve could be diminished.
So, be sure to return for any advised follow-up visits or fill necessary prescriptions. Follow instructions to make appointments with specialists.
As a plaintiff, you also have a duty to mitigate your damages following an accident. This means taking steps needed to limit the medical bills you accrue. If you fail to follow your doctor’s orders and your condition worsens, the at-fault party could refuse to pay for the treatment you need for your worsened condition.
There Are Steps Your Attorney Could Take to Resolve Your Case
Personal injury cases frequently are resolved through negotiated settlements. That is also the case when the injuries involved are relatively minor. If the negligence of another party is responsible for your injuries, you are entitled to seek compensation from them. An insurance company could be required to pay for your damages regardless of the extent of your claim.
The first step in settling a minor injury case usually involves a demand letter. A demand letter is a form of correspondence sent to the at-fault party or their insurance company by your attorney. This letter explains the extent of your injuries and demands compensation for your losses.
If the case does not settle following the demand letter, the next step could involve a lawsuit. Settlement negotiations often continue throughout a lawsuit up until the time of trial.
You Could Recover Different Types of Damages in a Minor Injury Case
There is no legal definition of what constitutes a “minor injury.” That means that you could be entitled to any of the damages available in a standard personal injury case. No two cases are the same, so your physical condition and the facts of the accident will determine what damages you are entitled to recover.
Medical bills are the most commonly sought form of compensation following an injury – even a minor one. Medical care is expensive, and treating a minor injury could cost thousands of dollars.
If your injury inhibited your ability to work or earn a living, you could also be entitled to compensation for your lost wages. Your car accident lawyer in Walterboro could use your employment records to calculate the wages you missed out on due to your injuries. Other damages that could be available include pain and suffering or mental anguish. Depending on the details of your case, your attorney will let you know more about the economic and non-economic damages you could seek. Beyond medical bills, they could demand on your behalf payment for your long-term physical therapy and the traveling costs involved in your recovery, loss of enjoyment for everyday activities, loss of consortium, future lost wages, alterations in your future travel plans, and more.
Talk to an Attorney’s Team About Your Car Accident Injuries
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, you might be entitled to a monetary award. Even if your injuries seem relatively minor at first, the severity of your condition could be greater than you realize. Over time, the cost of your medical care could become extensive.
Let an attorney from our team help you pursue fair compensation for your injuries. The team at George Sink, P.A Injury Lawyers is prepared to evaluate your case and advise you on your options for seeking fair compensation. Call (888) 612-7001 for a free consultation regarding your minor injury car accident settlement.