Ask any personal injury attorney about the first thing you should do after a car accident and you will hear the same answer: first, seek medical attention. If you decide against seeking medical attention after a car accident, you’re making a big mistake that could affect your health and personal injury claim. Here’s why:
Delayed Symptoms
Some injuries are immediately apparent after a car accident, but the symptoms of other injuries won’t begin to appear until hours or even days following the crash. For instance, you may not experience any symptoms of a concussion right after you have hit your head. Common symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea may not set in until later in the day.
Even though you don’t have any noticeable symptoms, doctors can still identify injuries using imaging tests and other diagnostic tools. If you choose to wait until symptoms appear, it’s possible that your condition will be worse than it was immediately after the accident. Your health should always be your first priority, so don’t take any chances by refusing medical treatment after an accident.
Personal Injury Claim
If the other driver was at fault for the accident, you have the right to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your injuries. But first, you will need to prove that you actually sustained injuries in the crash, which is not possible without medical records.
Just having medical records is not enough—the date that you received treatment will play an important role in your case. Let’s say you waited until two or three days after the accident to visit a doctor, who diagnosed you with whiplash. The at fault party’s insurance company may argue that the whiplash was not caused in the car accident because if it was, you would have seen a doctor sooner.
To avoid this problem, seek medication attention right away and inform your doctor of every symptom that you are experiencing, even if it is a minor one. These symptoms may become worse, so it’s important to document them early on so you have proof that they are linked to the accident. Be sure to ask for a copy of your medical records and keep them somewhere safe while your case is ongoing.
Seeking medical attention should be your first priority, followed by getting in touch with an attorney. If you have been involved in a car accident, contact Reisch Law Firm today to learn how we can help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
