It’s easy to forget how dangerous traveling by automobile can be. We rarely stop and think about how high the stakes are on the road. A serious car crash serves as an unwelcome reminder that your life hangs in the balance every time you get behind the wheel.

As horrific as some accidents are, you should feel fortunate if you’re walking away from the scene of one. Many individuals aren’t so lucky.

And although things could be far worse, life probably isn’t feeling too rosy right after a wreck. Between medical expenses, repair bills, and dealing with insurance adjusters, you’ve probably got your hands full. The good news: you don’t have to face this mess alone.

In this blog, we’ll explain what the first month after an accident typically looks like and how having the right injury attorney can make the entire experience far more manageable.

Week 1

The first week after an accident can feel like an absolute whirlwind. Your daily routine has likely come to a screeching halt and the activities that make you feel human are suddenly out of reach.

Taking a few days to process your trauma is completely normal. Your brain and body are in shock and your heightened adrenaline probably has you on edge.

At this point, you may or may not have gotten checked on by a medical professional. Even if you feel fine, it’s important to see a doctor and have them assess your physical and mental condition.

It’s very common for injuries to go unnoticed for days (or even weeks) after an accident. Getting examined shortly after your accident is crucial for documentation purposes and ensures that a clear causal chain is established from accident to injury.

As you begin to seek care for your injuries, you’ll likely be contacted by insurance adjusters looking for information about your accident. They may ask you to give a statement about your accident or to, “just explain what happened.”

It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters are not trying to strengthen your claim and will use your statements against you. When dealing with adjusters, remember to:

• Be polite, but cautious
• Avoid disclosing unnecessary details
• Don’t make any final decisions or agree to any settlements

As your recovery progresses and you continue to receive care for your injuries, the value of your claim will grow. Don’t say the wrong thing to adjusters and risk missing out on maximum compensation.

And while it’s not mandatory to contact an attorney in the first weeks after an accident, many people choose to do so. This is because a qualified personal injury attorney can help you navigate medical treatment, protect you from common insurance pitfalls, and ensure that early missteps don’t limit the value of your claim later on. Having the right guidance from the start is an advantage many accident victims wish they had taken sooner.

Week 2

By week two, the initial shock of your accident is probably wearing off and reality is setting in.

At this point, underlying injuries that may have gone unnoticed initially tend to rear their ugly head. Back, neck, and head injuries are commonly discovered at this time.

Just as during week one, it’s crucially important to document your symptoms and receive medical attention for any late-onset injuries right away.

If you were starting to get antsy, mourning the loss of your daily routine, you’re in luck. The days of emergency care are over and you’ll begin to slip into a more regular treatment routine consisting of:

• Follow up appointments with providers you’ve already seen
• Visits with specialty doctors
• Physical therapy 2-3 times per week

Although life still doesn’t feel completely regular, these are important steps on the path back to normalcy.

This is also right about when bills start piling up.

Even if you instructed your medical providers to bill your auto insurance for treatment, explanations of benefits (EOBs), unpaid balances, and confusing billing statements can start showing up in the mail around this time.

Many people feel blindsided by this part of the process, but it’s important to remain calm and organized. Be sure to keep track of who’s paid what bills and which balances remain unpaid. This is critical information once your claim has been settled.

Meanwhile, the hounding by insurance adjusters typically intensifies around week two. The adjuster assigned to your claim may begin:

• Following up aggressively
• Requesting documentation
• Asking how your treatment has progressed

The pressure is often palpable. You might feel trapped between doing what’s right for your health and navigating a confusing, unforgiving, transaction-based medical system.

The key to success here, as it is throughout the duration of your claim, is organization and consistency. Avoiding gaps in treatment and keeping close track of your paid and unpaid balances will pay dividends in the long run.

Week 3

By week three, frustration and fatigue will likely be mounting.

As pain and other troublesome symptoms linger on, it’s important not to lose hope. You’ve been through hell so far and at this point, it may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

You need to keep on fighting.

With so much still ahead of you, the monotony of PT appointments and doctor checkups may feel suffocating. Despite the hardship you’re experiencing, you need to make sure you keep up with your treatment.

Just like during the second week (and for many weeks to come) consistency is vital. Even a brief gap in treatment can cause the severity of your claim to come into question. When this happens, insurance benefits unfortunately get denied.

Speaking of denied benefits, this may be when you start experiencing some push back from your auto insurance provider. Your insurer eventually wants to get off the hook for your medical recovery and is actively seeking every opportunity they have to deny your benefits.

As stress, pain, and uncertainty continue building up, it may be time to consider the help of a trusted injury attorney (if you’re not already working with one). Amongst other helpful services, an attorney can hold insurance accountable and make sure all of your no-fault benefits are realized.

Week 4

By week four, you’ve been through a lot. After all the grueling hours you’ve put into PT and rehab, you might feel dissatisfied with the current state of your recovery. As hard as it is, don’t let your exhaustion get the best of you. Keep pushing!

If your injuries are serious enough that you’re still receiving care 4 weeks after your accident, you may want to again consider working with an injury attorney (if you’re not already).

An injury attorney can help by:

• Communicating with your insurance company and adjusters
• Getting denied benefits restarted
• Documenting your payments, treatment, and recovery
• Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and/or your own insurance provider
• Working with expert witnesses to help strengthen your claim or lawsuit

Consultations are often free and don’t require any sort of long term commitment. Plus, if you do retain an injury attorney, there is often no fee unless they win.

Given the low stakes of consulting with an attorney, it’s a no-brainer to consider enlisting the services of one.

And while it is beneficial to begin working with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident, don’t fret if you didn’t contact one right away. Attorneys are hyper-organized and will be able to gather any bills and medical records they didn’t initially have their eyes on.

As the saying goes: better late than never.

Get David Get Paid

The right personal injury attorney can make or break your insurance claim or lawsuit. Given the stark asymmetry of information available to clients in the legal field, an attorney’s guidance means everything. Without it, you might feel like you’re walking alone and in the dark.

The good news – finding the right attorney isn’t hard. All you need to do is call Femminineo Law.

The hardworking and dedicated team here at Femminineo Law knows a thing or two about dealing with insurance companies. We’ve won big for countless clients over the last 30 years and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

If you or someone you know was injured in an accident, give us a call at 855-65-CRASH, today! We’ll take care of all your frustrations so you can focus on what really matters – making a quick and complete recovery.

Get David. Get Paid.