Can I Be Compensated for Chronic Pain After a Car Accident?

After a car accident, victims can suffer from minor injuries and serious injuries that leave them with pain that persists for a long period of time. Although accident victims may be able to pursue compensation for the injuries they sustain, chronic pain can be difficult to diagnose and treat. This is especially true if the pain does not stem from a specific injury.

If you have chronic pain from an injury that was caused by another’s negligence, you have a right to be compensated for your suffering. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl are prepared to evaluate your situation and discuss your legal options during an initial consultation at no cost to you.

Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a long-term condition that does not go away after the recovery of an initial injury. The constant pain usually lasts longer than six months. Chronic pain can be debilitating for some accident victims and keep them from being able to live a normal life.

The pain can negatively impact a victim’s quality of life by causing other health issues, both physically and emotionally. Experiencing continued pain and discomfort can cause stress, anger, trouble sleeping and even depression. With or without treatment, chronic pain can also affect your relationships with loved ones and ability to work.

Car Accident Injuries That Cause Chronic Pain

Many injuries sustained from car accidents require extensive treatment, physical or occupational therapy, surgery, pain management and other medical care. An injury that contributes to long-lasting pain may be localized in one place or throughout the body.

Chronic pain can present itself in many ways. Some accident victims may only experience mild discomfort. Others may experience ongoing unbearable pain, intermittent pain that comes and goes, or persistent pain that may feel sharp or dull or cause a burning or aching sensation in the affected area or areas.

Car accident injuries that are often linked to chronic pain include:

Proving Chronic Pain in a Claim

In order to pursue compensation, you must be able to prove the severity of the chronic pain you are experiencing. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize the importance of chronic pain to reduce the amount of compensation they must pay to accident victims.

From a medical standpoint, chronic pain is often challenging to establish because it may not appear on a diagnostic or imaging test, such as an MRI or CT scan. This is why you need an experienced Maryland car accident lawyer by your side who understands the evidence needed to prove chronic pain and validate your claim. Some forms of evidence may include:

• Your medical records – Since pain typically cannot be proven with tests, the best way to prove chronic pain is through your medical records. These records could show when the pain started and that you have had chronic pain since the date of the accident that caused your injury.
• Testimony from an expert – It is important to have your own doctor or medical expert testify on your behalf about the specific injury that is causing you pain. He or she would be able to help establish the credibility of your injuries. Your lawyer may even suggest you see a pain specialist.
• Daily pain journal – Keeping a daily journal that details your pain levels and how it affects your life and your ability to do certain tasks or activities can be another way to build credibility.

Our Firm is Ready to Represent You

If you have suffered chronic pain after an car accident, you may be eligible to obtain compensation to help cover medical bills, lost wages, and more. Our firm is well-versed in the many factors that can affect car accident settlements and know what it takes to pursue maximum compensation in these cases.

Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team. We charge no upfront fees if we represent you and no fees while we work on your case. You only pay us if you obtain a recovery.

Millions Recovered. No Upfront Fees. Call 410-907-3957.