How You Can
Proceed with an Injury Claim After a Car Accident
It is not uncommon to make an injury claim after a car accident. Often
you’ll need to make up for lost wages, for both you and a family member who may
have had to care for you, as well as wages lost as a result of pain and
out-of-pocket medical costs.
Types of
Injuries After Car Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’re not alone.
Transit
Canada statistics show that 10,443 people were injured in motor vehicle
collisions in 2011. Another 2,237 people were killed by vehicles during the
same year, including both pedestrians and people operating vehicles.
After an accident, visit your doctor right away. Even if you feel just
a few aches and only have a bruise or two, it’s important to be checked out.
Soft tissue damage, like whiplash, may not appear until hours or days after
your accident. Your doctor can listen to what happened and check out the
relevant areas of your body to look for damage you may not feel yet. With the
threat of chronic pain for years to come for
fifteen
to twenty percent of whiplash sufferers, it’s important to have a doctor’s
assessment.
Other common injuries sustained in car accidents are head injuries,
brain injuries, bruised bones, bone fractures, internal organ injuries,
assorted back injuries, dislocated or fractured joints and connective tissue
injuries. The size of your claim will depend on the type and severity of your
injuries. Visiting a doctor is one of the most important steps you can take after
an accident.
The Average
Claim for Car Accidents in Canada
The Insurance Bureau of Canada showed that the average claim for a car
accident in 2010 was
$14,973.
The average accident benefits claim for car accidents the same year was
$56,092. This number also includes claims compensating for medication,
rehabilitation and other costs.
Why You
Need a Lawyer For Your Injury Claim After a Car Accident
After a car accident, your top priority should be to get better. You
may be stuck in the hospital for weeks, depending on the extent and severity of
your injuries. That’s why it’s important to contact a lawyer right after the
accident. Your lawyer can take pictures of the accident scene, interview
witnesses and fill out paperwork.
Your lawyer can also talk to the insurance company of the person at
fault so you don’t have to do it. As an experienced professional, your lawyer
has experience handling the questions of insurance adjusters and can answer
questions in a way that shouldn’t count against your insurance claim later.
Your lawyer will also encourage you to look toward the future. Your
home may need renovations to help you get around easily if you’ve suffered a
permanent physical disability. You may need childcare help or help with the
housekeeping and home maintenance. You may even need long-term care.
Your lawyer will help you with your injury claim after a car accident.
That way, you can rest easy and focus on your recovery while your lawyer
concentrates on helping you replace lost wages and medical expenses, plan for
future costs and compensate you for your pain and suffering.