Do You Need an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney When Injuries Don’t Seem That Serious?
You’ve been in a minor fender-bender in Bedford, Texas. You may have a few scratches, a little stiffness in your neck or back, or some bruises, but nothing serious. Do you still want to retain legal counsel and file a personal injury lawsuit?
Every Motor Vehicle Accident Has the Potential to Be Serious
One of the common misperceptions about car, truck and motorcycle accidents is that you need to have obvious and/or visible injuries to be able to recover damages for your losses. The reality is that virtually any motor vehicle accident, particularly where there was a collision, can have a significant impact on your daily life:
- Experts estimate that, when there is just about any level of impact between a vehicle and another object—another vehicle, a tree, a bridge abutment or other roadside object— occupants in the vehicle will sustain some level of whiplash injury. That’s where the forward movement of your body is suddenly halted, causing your head and neck to snap violently forward. Even at relatively slow speeds, the consequences of a whiplash-type injury can make it difficult or impossible to work, or interfere with many of the simplest tasks of daily life.
- Soft tissue injury can be extremely debilitating and often takes a longer time to heal— Damage to connective tissue, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage, can make it difficult or impossible to stand, walk, sit, bend, squat or lie down. The inflammation that your body naturally produces when you’ve suffered tissue injury can severely limit your mobility, balance, and range of motion.
- Lacerations may seem insignificant at first, but can cause a range of problems—There’s always the risk of infection any time you have cuts or scrapes. The skin around the laceration may tighten up or may produce scarring or disfigurement.
- You may suffer emotional distress, even in a minor car accident—It’s not uncommon to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after any type of car accident. You may be able to recover compensation for those injuries.
- You can always seek damages for property damage or loss
What Should You Do in the Aftermath of a Minor Car Accident in Bedford, Texas?
Far too often, motorists in a minor car will simply leave the scene without taking any further action. That can be a serious mistake in Texas. Under Texas law, if there was any type of injury or property damage exceeding $1,000, the accident must be reported to the local law enforcement agency.
It’s a good idea, while you’re still at the scene of the accident, to gather contact information from anyone involved in the crash, as well as any potential witnesses. That will help your attorney gather evidence and prepare and file a lawsuit, if necessary. You should also take pictures of all vehicles, of any injuries suffered by you or other parties, and of any roadway conditions or vehicle defects that may be related to the accident.
Once you’ve reported the accident and obtained any necessary medical treatment, you should notify your auto insurance company.
Contact the Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we bring more than 40 years of experience to motorists across the state of Texas who have been hurt in accidents or collisions caused by the carelessness of others. In our decades in practice, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured people throughout the Lone Star State and across the nation. We will be your advocate throughout the legal process, from the investigation of your accident to the filing of a complaint through trial and the final resolution of your lawsuit. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 or call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
