Help for Car Accident Injuries

Getting help for car accident injuries is critically important to your recovery and long-term health. Seeking immediate help will also benefit any insurance claims and lawsuits you file after the collision. What more reason could you need to see a doctor as soon as possible after an auto accident?

You may seek help from your own doctor, an urgent care facility, an emergency department, or another qualified provider. The most important consideration is that the provider completes a thorough evaluation, documents injuries, and symptoms, and provides you with documentation.

Billings sees its fair share of accidents. The busy suburban area of Billings Heights has been seeing a concerning increase in car accidents on Main Street. And, in Billings proper, King Avenue West and South 20th has been named the #1 most dangerous intersection with 39 accidents reported in a recent twelve month period.

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident in Billings, you should contact a seasoned car accident lawyer as soon as possible.  They will help you understand your rights and explain next steps.

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What “Help” May Look Like After a Car Accident

There are three primary forms of help you should seek out after a car accident, which are:

A Doctor’s Evaluation of Physical Injuries and Symptoms

Whiplash, facial injuries, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are just a few of the physical injuries associated with car accidents. There are a few reasons why seeing a medical provider cannot wait:

• Not every injury is immediately apparent, and measures like medical imaging and physical evaluations may uncover injuries you’re not yet aware of
• Some injuries may be far more serious than they first appear and may even become life-threatening if you do not get immediate treatment
• Those who owe you compensation might try to avoid paying for your medical costs, so having documentation of your injuries and treatments is critical

The consequences of not seeking immediate treatment are potentially catastrophic. Do not risk your health (or your case) by delaying medical care. If you already have waited to seek medical care after the accident, don’t fret—all you can do is see a medical provider today.

A Mental Health Professional’s Evaluation of Psychological and Emotional Symptoms

Every car accident victim has a unique emotional and psychological response to the crash. That said, mental health experts know that it is “relatively common” for accident victims to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and often other forms of pain and suffering.

You may be well-served by:

• Considering whether you might be affected in any psychological or emotional way by the car accident
• Seeking evaluation and treatment from a mental health professional in your area
• Asking for documentation of your symptoms (and any diagnosed conditions like PTSD) and the connection those symptoms and conditions have to the car accident

Allowing mental health struggles to go untreated is dangerous. Your quality of life will likely suffer if you don’t get the care you need, and even more serious consequences can be possible if you’re struggling without help.

A Billings, MT Lawyer’s Assistance with Your Case

Many car accident victims are taken aback by just how helpful a lawyer is. Your life will get significantly easier once you retain an experienced Billings car accident attorney because:

• You won’t have to worry about the claims process: An accident attorney can collect all necessary documentation supporting your claim, and negotiate with the insurance company. They know how to avoid the insurance company’s bad-faith tactics.
• Your lawyer will inform you if filing a lawsuit is something to discuss: If filing a lawsuit is an option worth considering, your lawyer will bring it up. Of course, you are free to ask any questions you’re curious about, so don’t hesitate to ask about a lawsuit if you’re wondering about it.
• You will have a team working on your case: Your attorney will not be the only professional fighting for you. Depending on the specific firm and the demands of your case, you may also have a case manager, paralegals, and others contributing to your case. With so many hands on deck, you will have few (if any) case-related responsibilities to handle.
• Your only accident-related focus will be your recovery: Your lawyer will need you to do one thing to benefit your case’s success. You will need to stick to your doctor’s treatment plan, avoid any strenuous activity, and do what you can to heal as fast as possible. Your attorney and their team will handle the rest.

If anyone knows what a car accident can do to the victim’s health and well-being, it’s an attorney. Your Billings, MT car accident lawyer will also know how to secure fair compensation for you. Let your legal team fight for your financial recovery. Let your fight toward full health be your primary focus.

Some Accident-Related Damages You Might Face in Addition to Your Medical Bills

Your attorney will get to know you. During this process, they will determine the damages you’ve suffered as a result of the car accident. Some of the damages that often result from car accidents are:

• Professional damages: Those injured in car accidents often suffer professional consequences (through no fault of their own). You might be unable to earn your usual income, face a decline in earning power, lose chances for bonuses, and lose other benefits that can come from gainful employment.
• Pain and suffering: Traffic accidents can cause physical pain, emotional anguish, psychological distress, sleep loss, lost quality of life, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), scarring, amputation injuries, and other serious problems that qualify as pain and suffering.
• The cost of mental healthcare: Never hesitate to seek help for car accident injuries, including those that affect you psychologically and emotionally. Your lawyer will include the cost of all accident-related mental health services in your case.
• The cost of disabling injuries: First, know that non-disabling injuries can be debilitating and expensive. That said, disabling injuries can permanently prevent you from working, cause severe pain and suffering, and impose other challenges that affect the accident victim indefinitely.

Then, of course, there are your medical costs. Your lawyer will be concerned with all of your damages, but your medical expenses are particularly important because:

• Medical services are uniquely costly, so they may account for a substantial portion of your total case value
• There should be no financial cap on your ability to get treatment for accident-related injuries, but accident victims may have to make difficult financial decisions if liable parties don’t cover their damages
• Your ability to access medical care may be the greatest factor in your quality of life, as medical treatment can lead directly to healing

Look for a car accident lawyer who has years of experience representing survivors. Experienced attorneys understand common injuries, how to document damages, and what survivors need from their legal team.

How Car Accident Lawyers Prove Injuries and Seek Compensation

Car accident lawyers have many resources at their disposal, including their own time and energy. Along with their paralegals, support staff, and any hired experts, your lawyer may help you by:

Protecting You from Unethical Challenges to Your Case

Conflicting agendas can be a threat to justice. In particular, insurance companies’ attempts to underpay accident victims is a concern that your lawyer will be prepared for.

Some of the specific bad-faith tactics your lawyer will be on guard for include:

• Pressuring you to make a statement before you’re prepared to (your lawyer may arrange for you to submit a written statement)
• Asking questions in a leading or intentionally confusing manner
• Misconstruing your words
• Misrepresenting policy details
• Assigning your losses a low value
• Extending a lowball settlement offer
• Claiming that you’re not entitled to the sum of money you know you are entitled to

You should assume that insurance companies will act in bad faith. With this perspective, you can protect yourself by hiring a lawyer to communicate with insurers on your behalf.

Proving Your Injuries and Symptoms

Your injuries will be a central feature of your case. Your lawyer must document both the injuries and the symptoms arising from the injuries. Attorneys often document accident survivors’ injuries using:

• CT scans, X-rays, and any other medical images showing your injuries
• Medical bills, which can serve as proof that you sought help for injuries after the accident
• Doctors’ notes detailing your the survivor’s symptoms
• Doctors’ diagnoses of accident-related injuries and medical conditions

Your law firm may also hire third-party experts to testify about your injuries. This testimony may include opinions about your timeline for recovery.

Documenting Your Other Accident-Related Damages

Medical costs may be just one of many damages you face because of the car accident. Your lawyer may document your other accident-related damages using:

• Your personal financial records, which may show the cost of vehicle repairs, temporary transportation, and other accident-related expenses (your bank statements may also be proof of lost income)
• Mental health experts’ testimony about PTSD, anxiety, depression, or any other pain and suffering you face after the crash
• Bills for mental health services

Because each accident survivor’s damages are unique, your lawyer will put together a record of your damages from scratch. They may contact your medical providers, hire experts, and take several other measures to detail your losses.

Calculating How Much Money You Are Entitled To

The cost of a car accident rises significantly when the survivor suffers an injury. These cases can cost far more than an accident victim first realizes. Allow an attorney to calculate your case value in a comprehensive manner that the courts will recognize.

Seeking Fair Compensation

Attorneys can resolve car accident cases in a few ways, which include:

• Negotiating a settlement with one or more insurance companies
• Negotiating a settlement with representatives of parties who are liable for your accident (without having to file a lawsuit against them)
• Filing a lawsuit and then negotiating a settlement with those named in the lawsuit (or an insurance company representing those parties)
• Fighting for you at trial and winning a judgment

You can see how versatile an attorney can be. They can use several potential strategies to secure compensation for a car accident victim. Because lawyers can take car accident cases all the way to trial, you have a full slate of options with an attorney leading your case.

Contingency Fees and Free Consultations: How Attorneys Take the Stress Off You

Being in a car accident can cause immense stress for the survivor. One of your primary goals after the collision should be to control and lower your stress levels. Your law firm will facilitate this goal by:

• Giving you an introduction with a free consultation: Finding the right law firm is step one. Because there is no fee for consultations, you can speak with any firm you’re considering for your case at no cost.
• Charging you no out-of-pocket cost for their services: Most personal injury lawyers require no upfront payment from the client. Your firm will complete every step of your case, and you won’t have to pay them a cent along the way.
• Only accepting a fee if they secure compensation for you: When law firms use contingency fees, the attorney must secure compensation for the client. Otherwise, the attorney does not receive a fee.

Law firms know you are hurting. Let them help. From their no-risk fees to their immense resources and ability to lead lawsuits, law firms make life easier for car accident victims. Don’t wait to find the law firm that’s the right choice for your case.

Hire a Billings, MT Lawyer After My Car Accident

You must not wait to find your Billings car accident attorney. If you don’t, you might risk missing filing deadlines and having a weaker case than you otherwise would. Billings injury attorneys are easy to contact and compassionate to accident victims’ struggles, so there’s no reason to wait for your free consultations.