How Long Do I Have To File My Car Accident Injury Claim?
Car accidents happen every single day across the United States. It is one of the major reported causes of injuries and deaths in the country.
In this article, we are going to discuss the following topics. What types of injuries are common in car accidents? What injuries can you claim, and how long can you file for it? Why is it helpful to have a car accident attorney? Let’s begin with the types of car accident injuries that a person could end up with.
Car Accident Injuries
Soft Tissue Injuries
It is the most common type of injury from a car accident. Soft tissue injury is defined as the damage done to a person’s connective tissues. Connective tissues refer to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Whiplash is one of many known forms of soft tissue injury. Another common soft tissue injury is lower back or mid-back muscle sprains.
Scrapes and Cuts
Any loose items that are in the car immediately become projectiles in a car accident. These projectiles are one of the main culprits of cuts and scrapes. Most scrapes and cuts are pretty minor, but more serious cuts and scrapes can be fixed with stitches.
Head Injuries
Head injuries can range anywhere from minor bruises and scrapes to major brain damage. The seriousness of a head injury can be evaluated by medical professionals. Some head injuries are not always noticed right after a crash, so it is wise to get checked out even if you think you are okay.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries are most commonly caused by hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or seatbelt. Some chest injuries can be as simple as bruising, while others are more serious, such as broken ribs or internal damage.
Arm and Leg Injuries
Injuries to the arms and legs can include a range of things, like bruises, scrapes, sprains, and broken bones.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
It refers to the severe anxiety that a person may have in relation to the car accident that occurred. It can be so severe that they lose the ability to function properly. It can, in turn, affect their daily life and the lives of their loved ones due to their quality of life and missing out on pay.
Car Accident Injury Claims
You can claim compensation for any serious injury resulting from a car accident. It can include asking for reimbursement for lost wages and all medical costs related to injuries from the car accident. Other things that can be claimed are the pain and suffering the accident caused as well as the funeral and burial expenses for the death of a loved one.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Injury Claims
The car accident statute of limitations for the state of Pennsylvania is 2 years. The limit of 2 years does not take effect until the person turns 18 if they were a minor when the accident happened.
There are several steps to take when filing a claim, so it is advisable to start the process long before the statute of limitations is up.
The first step to take is getting medical treatment. It can help you recover quicker, and it can also help provide more evidence to support your claim. The next step is to hire a car accident attorney to help you with the claim process. Next, contact the responsible party’s insurance company to file an insurance claim.
Here are the next steps to filing your claim:
- Give them your name and contact information
- Tell them the date and location the accident occurred
- Give them a detailed account of the events leading up to the accident
- Send them images of the damage from the accident
The insurance company will give you a compensation check. If this payment is too low, we can help you negotiate with them for higher compensation. If they don’t budge on their offer, the next step would be to take legal action.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help
There are several types of injuries that you could have when you get into a car accident. It is imperative to hire an attorney that specializes in car accident injury claims to help you through the process.
There are a few reasons why hiring a car accident attorney can help. If you hire an Easton car accident attorney at Sharma Law Office, we can help you streamline the claims process, compile supporting evidence, and negotiate with the insurance company.
If you get into a car accident in Pennsylvania, call us at Sharma Law Office and have your personal injury lawyer in Easton, PA.