If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Certain types of injuries may not become immediately apparent but can worsen over time if you delay or fail to obtain treatment at all.
Below are several reasons why you should see a doctor to assess the severity of your injuries and follow medical treatment after a car accident. Feel free to contact our firm if you have any questions about the claims process or are unsure if you have a claim. We are available to help 24/7.
Protect Your Well-Being
First and foremost, you want to protect your health after a car accident. Delayed onset of pain is a real medical issue and many car accident victims experience it days and even weeks later. That is why it is in your best interest to seek medical care on the scene from responding emergency personnel, visit the local hospital, and see your family physician.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
When the emergency personnel arrive on scene, do not sign a waiver refusing medical care. Even if you think you are not injured, let them take your vital signs and examine you in the back of the ambulance. If they recommend that you go to the emergency room, accept their advice and let them transport you. If they recommend following up with your primary care physician instead of a hospital visit, do what is recommended.
Minimize Unseen or Potential Injuries
As mentioned earlier, delayed onset of pain is real. Your injuries might not present themselves right away, which means days after the accident, you might not be able to move because of back pain or a leg injury. Seeking medical care after a car accident can help to minimize unseen or treat potential injuries before they cause too much trouble in your life.
Continue Course of Treatment
Once you have sought medical care, you need to continue the course of treatment as prescribed by your doctor. This can include taking medication, going to rehabilitation appointments, going back to your doctor for checkups and even undergoing any recommended surgeries. Ignoring the treatment ordered by the doctor can hurt not only your overall well-being but also hurt your potential legal claim for compensation against those involved in the crash.
Protect Your Insurance Claim
The sad reality with insurance claims is that insurance companies look for any reason not to pay their policyholders or to offer a low-ball settlement. This is no different when it comes to filing a claim for your injuries after a car accident. Insurance companies look for refusal of medical care in accident claims so they can deny the claim, so be careful about what you say to them.
Review Your Medical Records and Document Your Treatment
You can protect your insurance claim by reviewing your medical records and documenting your treatment. Ask your doctor, or the hospital that treated you, for copies of all your medical records stemming from the car accident. A lawyer can help facilitate this process faster and easier on your behalf. He or she will also have the ability to read these records thoroughly and look for possible mistakes or missing treatments that were administered. If any problems arise, it can be brought to the attention of your doctor or the hospital where you were treated.
How Insurance Adjusters View Victims Who Refuse or Stop Treatment
Insurance adjusters are not here to help you. They are tasked with paying out as little money as possible by their employers, looking for any reason to deny or devalue a claim. Insurance adjusters view car accident victims who refuse or stop treatment as someone who does not need a payout. If that person was truly injured, he or she would do everything possible to get better.
Learn More About Your Legal Options
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious car accident, we recommend that you contact a Windsor car accident lawyer at our firm. During our free case evaluation, we can review your situation and go over the options available to you. There are no fees involved for our services until the very end of the legal process.
Contact our office at (866) 320-4770 to schedule a free consultation today.