It isn’t unusual to experience pain after being injured in a car accident. However, some people find that their pain does not subside as their injuries heal. When a car accident that wasn’t your fault results in chronic pain, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver for your injuries and subsequent pain.
Victims of car crashes may experience severe pain for months or years even after their injuries have healed. Learn how a car accident can lead to chronic pain and how Wagner Reese can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Do Car Accidents Cause Chronic Pain?
Car accidents can cause serious injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and whiplash, which may lead to chronic pain. Victims of motor vehicle accidents are subjected to extreme force during a collision, which can damage the soft tissue of the spine’s vertebrae. Some crashes also result in head trauma, disfigurement, and crushing injuries.
In the initial weeks following the car accident, any pain you experience will be classified as acute pain, which is expected to fade as you recover. If the pain lasts longer than three months, or longer than anticipated by medical professionals, it is considered chronic pain.
Some types of chronic pain can be linked directly to a specific injury you received during the accident, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, or nerve damage. Other types may not have a clear cause but only appear after the accident.
How Chronic Pain is Different
Chronic pain can last for months or years after the physical aspects of your injuries have healed. It may even become a permanent part of your life. While medical intervention can help, treatment for chronic pain often extends past the coverage period on your health insurance. This can leave you with significant debt, or living without treatment you need but can’t afford.
Effective treatment for acute pain, such as prescription pain medication, may be costly or unavailable due to the long-term nature of chronic pain. Treatment for chronic pain may not entirely relieve the pain you experience, which can limit the enjoyment of your day-to-day life. Depending on the location and severity of your pain, you may be unable to return to work after the car accident or struggle to complete simple tasks or care for yourself.
Can I Recover Compensation for Chronic Pain After a Car Accident?
Chronic pain can require lifelong medical treatment and reduce your quality of life. If you develop chronic pain after being injured in a car accident, your auto accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for pain and suffering in addition to the costs of your medical treatment.
When recovering compensation for economic damages, like medical bills, you are limited to recovering the cost of calculable expenses from receipts and bills. Pain and suffering is a non-economic damage, meaning compensation is subjective. A settlement for pain and suffering can depend on the severity of your pain and how long it lasts.
An experienced car accident attorney from Wagner Reese knows chronic pain can be partially or fully disabling, reduce your quality of life, and cause emotional distress. Your attorney will review medical records regarding your injury and associated pain to help you build a strong claim and maximize your settlement to include chronic pain.
The Challenges of Recovering Compensation for Chronic Pain
Proving chronic pain can be challenging to do on your own. Since many people with chronic pain do not have visible external injuries, the other driver’s insurance company may believe you are faking or exaggerating your pain and refuse to compensate you accordingly. Without the help of an attorney, you may lose out on compensation for your pain.
A skilled Indiana auto accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering caused by chronic pain after a crash. Your attorney can help you prove your chronic pain to insurers by collecting medical records, rehabilitation logs, and medication prescriptions you must take to manage your pain.
They can also seek witness testimony from friends, family, and coworkers and use it to establish a clearer picture of how your chronic pain has impacted your life. You may also decide to record your struggles with chronic pain in a journal or daily videos in which you detail the severity of your pain and how it hinders your ability to work or enjoy normal activities.
Pursue Compensation for Chronic Pain with Wagner Reese
Chronic pain from a car accident can be limiting and steal away months or years of your life. The attorneys at Wagner Reese Injury Lawyers are dedicated to supporting victims of car accidents and holding the negligent driver accountable for your injuries.
We will use all possible evidence to estimate a fair settlement amount and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start your car accident claim.
