Pain and suffering — we all have a pretty good idea of what it means, but it takes on a whole new definition when put in the context of the law or used in a court room.  At that point, it can define a person’s life and how they are going to feel for the rest of it.

There are several types of physical pain.  Pain can be intermittent or constant and range from intensity from slight to agonizingly severe.  The pain might only occur when doing a certain activity, like shoulder pain when lifting an arm.

To a personal injury lawyer, “pain and suffering” is a legal term that encompasses all physical and emotional stress that can occur as a result of a car accident.  You do not need severe injuries to be compensated for “pain and suffering.”

Here are some examples of injuries that can occur from a car accident and can be the cause of pain and suffering:

  • Whiplash – Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that occur from an auto accident.  They usually occur when a car has been involved in a rear-end accident.  Whiplash symptoms may not seem serious or severe immediately after the car accident, but pain can suddenly appear hours, even days, after the car accident.  Whiplash symptoms include pain in neck, back, or shoulders, tingling or numbness in arms and legs, and headaches.
  • Strains – A strain occurs when a muscle is torn as a result of overstretching.  A strain is also called a “pulled” muscle.  There can be pain, stiffness, inflammation, and bruising around a strained muscle.
  • Sprains – A sprain is an injury that occurs with a torn or overstretched ligament.  Symptoms of a sprain are similar to a strain, including pain, stiffness, swelling, and bruising.  Most commonly, sprains occur in ankles and knees but can happen in any other joint.
  • Muscle spasms – Muscle spasms are bursts of involuntary muscle contractions (when the muscles pull together/tense up).  Spasms do not necessarily come with pain, but they can.  Spasms can become so forceful that they can tear tendons and ligaments.

These are just some examples of injuries that can occur from a car accident.  These are injuries done to the “soft tissue,” which is any tissue that surrounds, supports, or connects the organs and other structures of the body (e.g. muscle, tendons, and ligaments) to each other.

Our personal injury lawyers recommend that you go seek out medical treatment or a doctor immediately after a car accident, even if you think you are not seriously injured.  Pains and aches can come up even weeks after a car accident, and you may be able to catch any injuries before that happens, if you go see a doctor immediately after an auto accident.

Having medical records of your injuries, treatment, and progression of your recovery/non-recovery, can make a difference in the amount you ultimately receive from a settlement.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.