In Pain After a Car Accident in San Antonio?
Our car accident lawyers fight for injury victims in Bexar County, Texas
If you are in pain after a serious car accident in San Antonio, it’s important that you see a doctor right away. Then talk to a San Antonio car accident attorney at The Herrera Law Firm right away. We can answer your questions and explain your available legal options.
Our knowledge comes from our extensive experience handling such complex legal cases. We understand how complicated many car accident injury claims and lawsuits often turn out to be, even if such cases seem straightforward at first. You can count on us when it matters most.
Common painful car accident injuries
If you feel pain in any part of your body after a serious car crash, odds are you might have a serious injury. Pain due to a car accident can involve:
- Neck pain, especially if you are suffering from whiplash or another type of painful neck injury, which is especially common due to rear-end accidents.
- Severe headaches, which can be a warning sign of a concussion or another type of serious head injury or brain injury.
- Back pain, which is often due to lower back injuries and damage to the vertebrae, which often occur in head-on collisions and other serious crashes.
- Abdominal pain, which could be a symptom of a muscle strain, internal bleeding or organ damage.
- Bone pain, which can occur due to broken bones (fractures) sustained in a collision.
- Chronic pain that last weeks or months or years after your car accident.
- Sciatica pain, which happens when the sciatic nerve gets compressed or irritated. This nerve runs from your lower back down to your feet.
- Knee pain from hitting your knees on the dashboard, door, or center console.
- Chest pain, which can be caused by the force of the seat belt or impact with the steering wheel or airbag. It can be a sign of bruising, rib fractures, or soft-tissue injuries in the chest.
How long can pain last after a car accident?
There’s no single answer because every body and every crash is different. Some people feel sore for a few days and gradually improve with rest and basic treatment. Others deal with weeks or months of pain that interferes with work, sleep, and normal daily activities. More serious injuries (such as herniated discs, nerve damage, or complicated fractures) can lead to chronic pain that lasts years or becomes permanent.
Factors that affect how long pain lasts include your age, overall health, the force of the collision, and how quickly you get proper medical care. Skipping treatment or trying to “tough it out” can actually make things worse. The key is to follow your doctor’s recommendations, attend follow‑up appointments, and let your legal team know if your pain is lingering or getting worse.
What should I do if I’m in pain after a car accident?
See a doctor right away. If your accident just happened and you’re still at the crash site, ask the police to send an ambulance if necessary. An EMT or emergency room doctor at San Antonio Regional Hospital Emergency Room or another nearby medical facility can examine you right away.
Severe pain can be a warning sign of a serious injury. That’s why even if you have already had a medical professional examine you, schedule a follow-up appointment with a medical professional. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Delayed pain due to a car accident injury is very common as well. So even if you feel fine immediately after your accident, don’t be surprised if you experience severe neck pain or another part of your body hurts hours or days after your collision.
How much is my injury claim worth?
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to certain types of pain or injuries often associated with car accidents. Each case is unique. Some cases settle for a few thousand dollars, while more severe injuries that lead to disability can reach six figures or more. The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all your injury-related expenses, now and in the future. This can include:
- Emergency medical treatment to diagnose and treat your pain.
- Follow-up doctor’s appointments.
- The cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle.
- Prescription medications, including pain relief drugs.
- Physical therapy, especially if you experience long-term, chronic pain due to your car accident injury.
- Support services at home, especially if you cannot perform routine tasks due to severe chronic pain.
- Replacement income if you cannot work while you’re recovering from your painful injury.
- Future income if you cannot work in the future or can only work limited hours due to chronic pain.
The law is very clear in Texas. The at-fault driver must pay for all accident-related expenses for injury victims. If you didn’t do anything wrong, you shouldn’t have to pay for another driver’s reckless or negligent behavior.
How is pain and suffering calculated?
Pain and suffering is about what you feel, not just what shows up on a bill. In Texas, it’s typically calculated by looking at how your injuries affect your daily life: your pain levels, sleep, mood, ability to work, and ability to enjoy hobbies and family time.
Insurance companies often use formulas behind the scenes, sometimes multiplying your medical expenses by a certain number or assigning a per‑day value to your pain. That approach can undervalue what you’re living with, especially if your pain is long‑term or life‑changing.
Our San Antonio attorneys can use detailed medical records, pain journals, photos, and statements from family, friends, and co‑workers to prove your pain and limitations are real and serious. We can connect those dots and argue for pain and suffering compensation that actually lines up with your experience, not just a computer’s estimate.
How long do I have to file a claim after a crash?
In Texas, you generally have two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you miss it, you can lose your right to pursue compensation in court, no matter how serious your pain or how clearly the other driver was at fault.
There are some exceptions, but they’re limited, and waiting too long can also hurt your case even if you’re still technically within the time limit. Evidence can disappear, witnesses become harder to find, and insurance companies may drag their feet. It’s smart to talk with a San Antonio car accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can investigate, preserve evidence, and track all deadlines for you. That way, you can focus on healing while knowing that your rights are being protected from day one.
Why should I hire a San Antonio car accident lawyer?
All of this sounds fairly straightforward – another driver clearly caused your accident, which resulted in your painful injury. All you have to do is deal with insurance companies and they will take care of everything, right?
Don’t be so sure. In many cases, insurance companies – especially the one representing the at-fault driver – will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. That’s why it’s critical that you have an experienced legal team on your side, fighting for your rights.
Our dedicated San Antonio car accident attorneys know what’s at stake. If you’re in pain after your car crash, contact us and schedule a free consultation at The Herrera Law Firm right away. We won’t waste a second getting to work on your car accident injury claim or lawsuit.