Chapter 1: More Than A Fender Bender
How A Seemingly Minor Injury Can Be Life-Altering
It’s not uncommon to experience soreness immediately after an auto wreck. But you’re not a neurosurgeon, and you won’t know exactly what is wrong. So, you take an Advil or two, and carry on. But after the adrenaline wears off, after you start taking stock of how the incident has changed you, you may head in for an appointment that gives you startling news.
What does this look like? I’ve seen clients dismiss their post-incident pain, refuse transportation to the hospital, see their doctor once, and never follow up on anything. Three months later, they learn they need neck surgery. A seemingly minor injury has ultimately been life-changing.
The reality is, after a serious car wreck, you don’t know what you don’t know. And the more damaging the car wreck was, the more debilitating your injuries are likely to be.
Common catastrophic injury types include multiple fractures, compound fractures, spinal damage, nerve damage, and traumatic brain injuries. This last type of injury can be difficult to diagnose immediately, but the right documentation and imaging can help verify a traumatic brain injury, as well.
The Types Of “Invisible Injuries” People Often Overlook
Unlike cuts, bruises, or broken bones, an invisible injury isn’t visible to the naked eye and won’t show up on X-rays, either. These invisible injuries typically include nerve damage and traumatic brain injuries. Hidden injuries can still derail your life and cause trouble processing thoughts, mood swings, or depression.
This is why it’s crucial to document your symptoms after a car wreck. Keep a dated journal of symptoms or issues, and be forthcoming with your doctor about any problems you’re noticing. Trouble thinking clearly, memory issues, and changes to your mood after a car wreck can all be signs of a serious, invisible injury.
Tell your doctor everything; this can help them request the correct diagnostic testing to determine if you’re suffering from an invisible injury.
Attorney Shawn Gozarkhah is a hard-working, caring personal injury attorney serving California. Since 2012, he’s helped injured clients just like you regain dignity and find answers after a serious auto wreck causes harm.
Have questions, or in need of effective legal guidance? Reach out to The Law Man Group, APC for an initial consultation today.
Impacts On Your Ability To Work And Support Your Family
Your car wreck injuries will likely impact your ability to do your job in significant ways. If you professionally clean pools and have suffered a broken arm, you won’t be able to work for a while. The same is true if you’re an auto mechanic or warehouse worker.
Invisible injuries can cause serious problems, too. Cognitive issues, vision problems, and headaches can make white-collar work difficult. I’ve had clients who were forensic accountants complain that the numbers they were viewing had begun blurring together after the incident, or that they kept losing their place as they counted. The injury forced them to reinvent the wheel on certain tasks they were formerly able to complete on autopilot.
Invisible injuries can be tough to diagnose, tough to treat, and tough to impress upon an insurance provider. But if you know and trust the attorney and doctors you’ve surrounded yourself with, you’ll be in a much better position to secure the medical and legal help you need.
The Reality Of Recovery Time
This is likely your first time enduring an auto incident. You may not know what to expect, which questions to ask, or how diagnostic testing will relate to your injuries. Keep in mind that the road ahead will be a process. It will be a legal process as well as a physical healing process.
On the physical healing side, the goal is not physical perfection or being exactly as you were pre-incident. It’s about taking those steps, taking care of yourself, and getting as close to your pre-incident condition as possible without feeling overwhelmed. You may need to re-learn how to use a spoon, walk, or take a bath independently. That’s alright; take your physical recovery one step at a time, and trust your attorney to seek the maximum damages possible for your injuries.
And if the legal process seems slow, remember: you’re not alone. You’re in good company, and as your attorney, I’ll help you navigate the legal system ahead. Within this process, you will have to actually prove your injuries; unfortunately, you won’t come to a resolution simply because you ask nicely. Still, your legal team will make sure that everything’s documented and that your case is presented in such a way to clearly show who was at fault for your wreck and how it has impacted you.
It’s not a quick process, but sticking with it is important. Remember, this process will allow you to come to a resolution that you can live with and that fairly compensates you for your time, losses, and heartache.
Attorney Shawn Gozarkhah is a hard-working, caring personal injury attorney serving California. Since 2012, he’s helped injured clients just like you regain dignity and find answers after a serious auto wreck causes harm.
Have questions, or in need of effective legal guidance? Reach out to The Law Man Group, APC for an initial consultation today.
