Inclement weather currently accounts for 24 percent of all automobile accidents in Utah. Recently the Utah Highway Patrol reported 376 crashes during the biggest storm of the season in five northern Utah counties alone. On average, Utah has 141 motor vehicle crashes each day, according to state officials.

And with automobile accidents on the rise during the winter season, officials at Car Crash Pain say accident victims need to be aware of their rights to avoid some very costly mistakes.

Car Crash Pain recently released the top five most expensive mistakes individuals make after being in a car accident which include:

1.)    Ignoring or minimizing injuries.

According to officials at Car Crash Pain, it can take several months for injuries to become fully evident; don’t delay on getting medical treatment. People often think their injuries are minor enough that they will heal on their own, without the help of a doctor. Pain that lasts more than three months has a 90 percent chance of becoming permanent. There is no effective treatment for chronic pain symptoms once they develop.

Car Crash Pain officials said delayed treatment can result in more serious health issues in the future such as chronic headaches, neck and back pain, fatigue, arthritis and disc disease. Fifty percent of all chronic neck pain sufferers attribute their pain to a car accident.