It isn’t hard to imagine: a car accident results in minor injuries for one of the parties involved. But then what was thought to be a minor injury begins to show signs of something more: increased and frequent pain. Then the injured person requires more medical attention and perhaps even misses work. These two effects alone, aside from the pain of an injury, are enough to make someone take a closer look at the circumstances of a car accident. A serious question arises: Should a physical pain become a financial one?

With these issues in mind, Billings residents may want to consider a recent three-vehicle crash in Montana that left one woman injured.

A local news report did not indicate exactly why a pickup truck rear-ended the woman’s car, but the driver of the truck was cited by police for careless driving. The initial collision sent the woman’s car into the back of another truck that was in front of her.

The woman’s injuries weren’t specified in the news report, but auto accidents of this kind — where a car is hit from behind — often result in back and neck injuries. Whiplash, in other words, is a frequent result of a person’s car being rear-ended.

As many Montana residents know, a back or neck injury can plague a person for years. It can take a long time for an injury of this kind to heal, and treatment is often time-consuming and expensive.

This particular three-vehicle crash may serve as a reminder to readers in Billings that negligent or careless drivers may be held liable for injuries. A personal injury claim can help suffering parties obtain compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Individuals with these concerns will want to be fully aware of their rights under personal injury law.

Source: Helena Independent Record, “Three-car wreck sends one to hospital,” Alana Listoe, April 1, 2012