Should I Contact A Personal Injury Attorney If My Injuries Are Only Minor?
Accidents, whether from a car accident, slip and fall, or dog bite have the potential to lead to severe personal injuries. The degree of severity of this injures depends on several factors that vary by person. A rear-end car accident may cause severe injuries to one person, but only minor injuries to another. When someone is injured as a result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, he or she should have the opportunity to pursue the damages he or she is entitled to. If the injuries are severe, most accident victims will not hesitate to seek immediate medical attention and consult with an attorney.
However, sometimes an accident victim may believe his or her injuries are only minor, and may choose not to pursue a claim for damages. You should know however, that even minor injuries warrant consulting with an attorney and can result in a recovery. Oftentimes injuries are more severe than early symptoms indicate.
When a person suffers severe damages caused by someone else’s negligence, the accident victim may incur high medical bills and hospital expenses, and may be out of work for a significant period of time. Even minor injuries can result in steep medical expenses and time off work, as well as:
- Significant pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Wage loss
Each accident is different, and thus each person’s injuries will be different. When an individual clearly breached their duty to act reasonably under the circumstances and carelessly or negligently causes another person to suffer injuries, the injured party is entitled to receive compensation. While the law requires some type of injury to person or property, even accident victims suffering minor injuries are entitled to compensation.
How Soon After An Accident Should I Contact A Personal Injury Attorney?
It is important not to delay contacting an injury attorney after an accident. First, as soon as the accident occurs and an injury is suffered, the statute of limitations begins to run on your claim. The statute of limitations governs the time you have to file a formal claim for damages. Once the statute of limitations runs out, the claim is forever barred. How much time you have depends on your type of claim. For instance, a medical malpractice victim has only two years to bring a lawsuit. A general negligence claim (auto claim against negligent driver, slip and fall case, dog bite case, etc.) must be brought within three years of the injury producing event.
Additionally, contacting an attorney soon after your incident also helps to preserve necessary evidence that will be crucial to proving how the incident occurred. Memories and evidence fades over time, contacting an attorney soon after the incident can be the difference between winning and losing.
Regardless of the severity of your injuries, if you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine your rights to compensation.
Metro Detroit Injury Lawyers is a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan law firm practicing personal injury law. Contact us today at 248-430-8929 for a free consultation and evaluation of your personal injury case.