Did I Forfeit My Right to Compensation By Saying I Wasn’t Injured at the Time of the Accident?

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers  317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers
317-881-2700

That gut feeling is telling you that you made a huge mistake at the scene of your recent accident by telling everyone you felt fine. But not to worry; stating that you did not believe you were injured at the scene of your accident does not necessarily jeopardize your rights to compensation for your damages and losses. Continue reading to learn about delayed injuries, and what you should do next to protect your claim for compensation.

Onset of Injuries

Statements like “I believe I am fine” or “I don’t think I am injured” are not statements that will necessarily make or break your overall claim for compensation. Both medical professionals and insurance companies are familiar with the possibility of delayed injuries, also known as an “onset of injuries.” See our blog, “Onset of Injuries: Do Not Assume That You are Not Hurt After an Accident” to learn more about delayed injuries.

Experiencing delayed injuries is a common occurrence after being in an accident. A person may feel fine directly after an accident, but then later on, begin to feel an onset of symptoms that suggest injury, such as dermal abrasions, bruising, swelling, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even abdominal pain, which may indicate internal bleeding.

Common Symptoms of Injuries That Can Show Up Later:

Numbness
Swelling and Bruising
Headaches and Migraines
Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain
Abdominal Pain
Emotional Distress

What You Should Do

If you are experiencing an onset of injuries after being involved in an accident that was not your fault, it is vital to your health most importantly and to your claim for compensation secondarily, to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. They can treat your obvious injuries, as well as identify and diagnose any underlying injuries that have not yet surfaced.

During this time, do not agree to make any recorded or official statements to law enforcement or insurance adjusters until you have been advised by a personal injury attorney. In fact, your next step after seeing a doctor is to consult with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who can provide trusted advice regarding your claim.

Insurance adjusters sometimes try to get victims injured by their negligent insureds to give a recorded statement soon after a collision and attempt to get them to say they feel fine, while knowing it is very common for the delayed onset of injuries to surface and for symptoms of those injuries to surface in the days, weeks and sometimes months following a collision.

You can be recorded without even being told you are being recorded, so it is important to talk with your doctor first about your injuries, your own attorney second and the insurance companies third.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Law Firm
317-881-2700

Call the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free initial consultation with a licensed personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are motivated to help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve after being seriously injured in an accident. Call 317-881-2700 to get started today.

Can I Lose My Claim for Compensation if I Say I’m Not Injured at the Scene of the Accident?

Not all injuries are immediately discernible. A gradual onset of injuries is a common occurrence among accident victims.

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Sometimes when a person is involved in an accident, they may not experience any pain or discomfort at first, so they tell police and witnesses that they are not hurt. But then days or weeks following the accident, injures can begin to surface, and they start to worry that they have forfeited their right to an injury claim because of the statements they made at the scene of the accident. This is common after car accidents and slip and fall accidents.

If this sounds like your current situation, continue reading to learn what your options are for filing a personal injury claim.

Scene of the Accident Reports

The challenge with gradual onset of injuries are the statements victims make at the scene of the accident. Anything they say is recorded in the police report and witnessed by others. These statements can be used against them by their own or the opposing insurance company to reduce or refuse compensation. For this reason, if you are ever involved in an accident, always tell the reporting police officer that you are not sure if you are hurt and that you would like to have a doctor examine you. This way, if you discover underlying injuries later on, you can still have a chance at recovering compensation to cover your economic losses and damages. Always get professional medical attention after an accident, whether you believe you are injured or not.

Accident Claims

If you were involved in an accident and said that you were not injured, but later discovered that you were, you have not lost your rights to file an injury claim, nor have you jeopardized your chances at recovering fair compensation for your losses. Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer for help navigating your accident claim. They have the knowledge, experience, and resources to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve. It is not your fault that your injuries were not evident from the start!

Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their seasoned accident lawyers offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless they win your settlement. Call our office today at 317-881-2700 to schedule your consultation with an Indianapolis personal injury attorney who cares.

Do Not Assume That You are Not Hurt After an Accident

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Sometimes a person can feel just fine after an accident, but then later on, experience an onset of injuries. This is a common occurrence among victims of serious accidents, primarily car collisions. Directly after an accident, a person can still be in shock, and not realize they are hurt. While other times, they can feel unaffected after an accident, but then days or weeks later they can start to feel sore or have limited mobility. And in more serious cases, an onset of injuries can be the beginning indications of a
serious, underlying injury.

Onset of Injuries

But if a person affirms that they are “okay” or “not hurt” after an accident, their statement could impair their eligibility to recover compensation for any damages and losses incurred as a result of being injured. This may include hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, prolonged physical therapy, and more. So if you are ever involved in an accident, keep in mind that an onset of injuries could occur later. Even if you feel fine initially, never tell witnesses, police officers, or insurance adjusters at the scene of an accident that you are not hurt. This could damage your opportunity to recover the amount of compensation you need to recuperate and get back to your normal way of life.

If you find out that you are later hurt, and wish to seek compensation for your injuries, you may face a challenge if you claimed that you were not initially hurt. It is possible for insurance companies to raise questions regarding any statements you make about the accident. You will still be able to file a claim against the negligent party or insurance company either way, but it is better to avoid raising any questions to begin with. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for help filing an accident claim. They have the knowledge, skills, and resources to support your claim and recover the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve.

Indianapolis Accident Attorneys

Personal Injury Law Firm Indiana

Personal Injury Law Firm 317-881-2700

Call The Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for help filing an accident claim in Indianapolis, Indiana. Seasoned personal injury lawyers, Daniel Craven, Ralph Hoover, and Keith Blazek, are eager to help you get your life back on track after being injured in a serious accident. We offer free initial consultations and never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you! Call 317-881-2700 to schedule an appointment with our Indianapolis accident attorneys, today.