In New York State, experiencing minor injuries after car crash may not be enough to pursue a strong claim against the driver responsible for your accident. In order to bring a valid personal injury claim, a doctor must determine that you sustained a “serious physical injury” directly caused by the accident.
Symptoms of Injuries
If you are a car accident victim, you may not immediately realize that you’ve been seriously injured. Because of the shock of the accident, you may have an injury—such as whiplash, a concussion, or even emotional trauma—that doesn’t present itself until days later.
If you’ve been in a car accident, watch for any of these 10 symptoms of serious injuries:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Tingling or burning in the neck and shoulder region
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety or depression
- Fatigue
- Numbness or weakness in certain areas
It’s important not to ignore these symptoms. Not only should you be treated to avoid long-term health problems, but a diagnosis of your injuries also may make you eligible for compensation for pain and suffering. Medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses may also be covered by No-Fault insurance coverage.
The personal injury attorneys at William Mattar want to help you get the money you’re owed for your accident-related injuries—but first we need proof of your accident injury. A medical report from your doctor can be valuable evidence for building your accident claim. Don’t delay your treatment or getting in touch with us after you’ve been in a serious accident. Contact us 24 hours a day—we want to start building your case.
Types of Serious Injuries
The law defines a serious injury as an injury that results in any of the following:
- death
- significant disfigurement
- dismemberment
- a fracture
- loss of a fetus
- permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- permanent consequential limitation of use of a body organ or member
- significant limitation of use of a body function or system
- or a non-permanent injury preventing you from performing your daily activities for not less than 90 days within the 180 days immediately following your accident
Some serious injuries may be simple to determine, but others require a doctor’s expert medical opinion. Diagnostic tests and documentation of your progress during treatment can help a doctor determine whether or not your injury is considered a serious injury under New York law.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Insurance company medical professionals may try to dispute the severity of your injuries, which can affect your ability to collect compensation. At William Mattar Law Offices, our knowledgeable accident injury lawyers work hard to understand the nature of your claim, so we can help fight to protect your rights.
William Mattar has years of experience helping car crash victims throughout New York, and we may be able to help you too. Contact our dedicated injury attorneys 24 hours a day, seven days a week—call (844) 444 - 4444 or complete a free initial consultation form today.