Being injured in an accident can be a life changing event.  And I’m not just talking about serious injuries involving loss of life or limb; even what seems like a run of the mill accident can affect you for years. 

“It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience.” - Julius Caesar

Being injured in an accident can be a life changing event.  And I’m not just talking about serious injuries involving loss of life or limb; even what seems like a run of the mill accident can affect you for years.

Take a 25 mph rear end collision.  Often there are no broken bones, no surgeries, just a lot of bumps, bruises, scrapes and cuts.  But not taken seriously, soft tissue injuries, particularly to the neck or back, can last a lifetime.  The body’s healing process is to create scar tissue.  Micro-tears in soft tissue heal by scarring, and those tissues within the body that used to slide effortlessly by one another can fuse together with scar tissue.  The result is loss of mobility, flexibility, and sometimes pinching and pain.

Proper treatment is a must, particularly physical therapy during the healing process to ensure you maintain your range of motion.

And then there’s the headaches, lack of sleep, and fear and anxiety every time you look in the rear view mirror.

Often times hiring a lawyer or bringing a lawsuit feels taboo.  ‘They will think I’m greedy, it’s just not that big of a deal, I don’t’ need an attorney.’  Another Fond du Lac attorney once asked me is he should take an insurance adjuster’s offer on his own accident case.  It was way too low.  There is a reason for the old adage “A person who represents themselves has a fool for a client.”  Its human nature.  If you try to represent yourself, you likely won’t get what you deserve.  And it’s not the insurance adjuster’s fault for doing their job.  It’s not so easy to assert your own injuries for what they are really worth. 

We tend to downplay our own suffering while others can be much more objective.  An attorney’s job is to ensure your injuries are seen in their entirety from your point of view.

And putting a number on pain and suffering isn’t easy.  There is no formula.  Lawyers experienced in personal injury cases know that you must address every type of damage and possible future problems.  They have a good sense for when there’s more wiggle room in the negotiations, or if the adjuster is simply off base.

There is no way to take back pain.  When you are injured by someone else, our legal system has determined the only way to compensate you is with money.  That’s as fair as justice can get when it comes to pain and suffering.  You shouldn’t be embarrassed that you’ve been injured and there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking fair compensation to suffer through what often amounts to years of physical and emotional change.