Why Should I Get Medical Care After an Accident if I Don’t Think I was Injured?
When you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may initially think you are fine and do not need medical attention. However, this can easily be the wrong decision to make. You may find that in the ensuing days and weeks, you start developing symptoms that can mean a serious injury. Symptoms of many injuries can be delayed such as whiplash, abdominal trauma or even traumatic head injuries. Getting medical attention right away is not just a case of “better safe than sorry,” it can mean the difference in whether you have to fight the at-fault party’s insurance company to get compensation.
Delayed Symptoms in a Car Accident
It isn’t uncommon for injury symptoms following a traffic collision to be delayed. Because the body is flooded with adrenaline when a vehicle is involved in a traffic accident, trauma can be masked because your pain receptors are numbed. When your adrenaline level returns to normal later, symptoms of injuries may start appearing. If you didn’t see a physician right away, it can create problems if a lawsuit is filed.
Your Car Accident Will Be Documented by the Medical Attention You Sought
Having your injuries documented by a doctor following your traffic accident is another reason to seek medical treatment. A connection will be established between your injuries and the accident that caused them. In the absence of documentation, the insurance company can try to say that your injuries were probably not serious and may have occurred from another type of accident that didn’t involve the at-fault party. By going to the emergency room or seeing your family doctor right away, it helps you protect your right to compensation for your accident injuries.
Make Sure to Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
The importance of seeking medical attention after a car accident cannot be overstated, as well as the significance of following all instructions provided by your doctor. As a result, you should fill prescriptions, go to physical therapy if it is ordered, take over-the-counter medication as directed and attend all of your follow-up appointments.
Especially when you’re feeling better, skipping appointments and ignoring treatment recommendations may seem tempting, but this may adversely affect your injury claim. Noncompliance may be used by the insurance company as a reason to reduce or deny your claim if you don’t follow your treatment plan. By complying with your doctor’s recommendations on your care, it helps protect your right to compensation.
Diaz Law Firm: Car Accident Lawyers
With the experienced car accident attorneys at Diaz Law Firm, you can recover compensation if your injuries were caused by a negligent driver. Call us at 800-459-2222 or contact us online. If you would like to talk with someone about a potential case, our team is available to help. In our contingency fee practice, you will not be charged until your case is settled.