The question may seem as if it would have a simple answer: When to hire an auto accident lawyer in Chicago? Why, when you are injured, of course! However, it is not always so clear cut. Injuries vary so much, and the range of clients that an auto accident lawyer in Chicago may deal with today is very wide. Not every injury will qualify, but other injuries are so serious that it is extremely vital that legal representation is procured immediately following the accident. Still other injuries may initially seem minor and in fact end up being part of a major monetary settlement thanks to a personal injury lawyer. In the end, knowing when to hire a personal injury lawyer depends upon being well versed in the facts about your injury, and considering the potential long term impact the the injury could have. The following are some of the less obvious injury cases in which a quick call to an auto accident lawyer in Chicago is a very good idea. Uncertain Accident Cause or Potential Mechanical Failure If you had a major car accident and you feel that it was not due to any action taken by you, or by another person, there is a possibility that you experienced mechanical failure due to faulty tires, brakes, steering mechanisms, or other parts. In some cases faulty car equipment was the cause of that accident and this is a case that can be investigated by your auto accident lawyer. If indeed mechanical failure was the reason for the accident and the car had faulty parts you may have a case against the vehicle manufacturer or the maker of the specific faulty part. This is just as viable as a case against another driver who was at fault, the only difference is where the negligence lies. A Late Developing Injury If you have a minor physical injury or you think you weren't hurt at all, it may seem like common sense to dismiss the idea of legal representation. However, in a case where you were even minimally hurt because of the improper actions or negligence of another driver or drivers on the road, you need to really consider what the extent of your injury is. You may have chosen to skip the ambulance ride to the hospital after a car wreck because you had only a mildly aching neck or slight bruising. However, many injuries, whiplash among them, do not fully reveal themselves until days after the actual accident. This means you can feel fine for a few days after the accident and then suddenly be virtually immobile because of pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. This is definitely an injury that will require a personal injury attorney, because whiplash or other late developing injuries will require medical care, chiropractic care, physical therapy, or a combination of all of these to heal properly. If you ignore a whiplash injury, it will never heal on its own, but will only deteriorate and eventually become a permanent problem. Another case in which you may need to call an auto accident lawyer, even if you didn't have a major hospital stay, is if your life changed for the negative as a direct result of the accident. For example, if you have been unable to attend work meetings, family functions, or if you've been unable to continue training for a marathon run because you were hurt in the car accident, these are all damages that an auto accident lawyer may be able to help you with. The damages can be something as seemingly small as no longer being able to drive your grand children to school each day because your arm was sprained and you had limited upper body mobility after the accident. Or perhaps you have had to miss work, school, or important commitments because of the need to seek chiropractic care, physical therapy, or other medical treatment for your accident injuries. Anytime that your normal life has been seriously disrupted because of your auto accident is a personal damage, and this is usually a recoverable damage for an expert auto accident lawyer in Chicago.
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