What’s the first place you should go after a car accident? It isn’t home or work. If you’re in a crash, you should go to the doctor immediately. It doesn’t matter if you have bruises, scrapes, or something more serious, you should go to the doctor ASAP. If you don’t, it could cost you the compensation you need to move forward.
Urgent Care
There are two very important reasons for going to the doctor immediately after an accident. First, the doctor can conduct a physical examination to determine whether there is any internal damage. Car crashes typically cause blunt force trauma results in injuries like broken bones or internal bleeding. These can go unnoticed for weeks until they become more severe due to inattention. These are called “latent injuries.” The sooner a doctor examines you, the more likely they are to identify a latent injury before it gets worse.
The second reason has to do with the insurance companies. If you wait more than a few days to see a doctor, the insurance company might argue that your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim. If you have a latent injury, they might even claim that the car crash was not the cause of your pain. Going to the doctor from the scene sets the record straight and gives you the best possible chance of a fair recovery.
Establishing Proof
If you don’t receive medical treatment for an injury, there’s no legal proof that the injury exists at all. Whether you’re pursuing an insurance settlement or a lawsuit, if you don’t have a medical record documenting your injury, you’ll have almost no chance of a successful damages claim. It’s not enough to be injured, you need to demonstrate that you attempted to get treatment for your injuries.
Consistency is key when it comes to your injury, not just for the sake of your recovery, but for the sake of earning your rightful compensation. If you miss scheduled treatments or if you don’t schedule enough treatments, the insurance companies may argue that your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim and will try to offer you a lower settlement. Take our advice; when you’re injured in a car crash, going to the doctor is an absolutely necessity.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries at the hands of an uninsured motorist, you need to pick a firm that will make results happen. If you’d like to schedule a free case consultation with an experienced New Orleans car accident attorney from The Burrell Firm LLC to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (504) 688-7728.