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Hello, everyone. I’m Bill Adler, and welcome back to one of our frequently asked questions. This frequently asked question is about a situation we see a lot, where someone walks away from a wreck but doesn’t realize they were injured until later. Even in this situation, you can still make a claim.

Sometimes, accident survivors need some time to realize how injured they are. Auto accidents are traumatic events that get your adrenaline going. That’s your body protecting you, but it also makes it harder to feel pain. That’s why people who are genuinely injured might turn down medical attention right after the accident. Or sometimes, crash survivors are so grateful to be alive and walking away that they don’t think about more subtle injuries. And some injuries, especially to the head, neck and back, don’t show up right away.

If you do notice injuries after a crash, you should also go see a doctor. That’s not just for treatment, although a doctor is the best person to tell you what’s going on with your body. It’s also because the doctor can create a medical record to prove your injuries if you do decide to sue. Sometimes, insurance companies will argue that if you waited a while to get treatment, you must not be very injured and you shouldn’t be paid much. Having medical records of a doctor’s professional opinion, and sometimes scans, shows that’s not true.

Fortunately, Texas gives crash survivors up to two years to file a lawsuit against the person who caused their injuries. This deadline is called a statute of limitations. This can be complicated, but it’s also important, because you can’t sue at all if you miss the deadline. Even if you think you already missed it, please don’t hesitate to call us so we can give you our professional evaluation.

We can’t emphasize enough that you should talk to a lawyer if you’re worried about legal deadlines. We’ve been hammering insurance companies for more than four decades, so we know how important it is to start a case well before the statute of limitations runs out. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can talk to us with no further obligation. To set one of those up, call us at 1-800-567-7575 or contact us through our website at jimadler.com.