After A Car Accident: What To Do About Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be a serious, lifelong problem after a car accident. It can also be difficult to prove liability unless you and your legal team take the necessary steps. Insurance adjusters may try to argue that your lingering pain is caused by something else, in order to limit or deny a claim.

What is Chronic Pain?

Medical professionals at the National Institutes of Health define chronic pain as “persistent or intermittent pain that lasts more than 3 months. “ You may experience this type of discomfort if you suffered a soft tissue injury or whiplash in a car accident. Symptoms may include headaches, back and neck pain, and numbness.

Treatments

There are a number of methods your doctor may recommend to ease your chronic pain. Treatments include: Anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, injections, or alternative methods like acupuncture. If you were involved in an accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to a financial settlement that covers the cost of these treatments.

More Than Just Physical Pain

Chronic pain can negatively impact other aspects of your life. It can lead to fatigue and sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, mood changes, and anxiety.

These lasting side effects could also hurt you financially. About 20% of adults say they’ve had to take disability leave from work due to pain. It’s also estimated that in the United States, chronic pain leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity every year; included in that estimate is billions of dollars in lost wages. (You can read more about that national research study here.)

Steps To Take After A Car Accident

It’s crucial that you document your pain levels and describe symptoms in detail to your doctor. It’s also important to wait until you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement before settling a claim. MMI occurs when your condition has stabilized and there is a very slim chance that more injuries will surface.

The team at the Flickinger Legal Group can walk you through all of this. If your chronic pain can be linked to injuries suffered in a car, truck or motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical treatments. Give us a call at 614-944-5055 for a free consultation. We’ll fight as hard as possible to make sure the responsible party is held accountable, and that you receive the money you deserve.