After a car accident, it’s vital to seek medical care from your primary care physician or at an emergency room or urgent care clinic. Seeking medical care immediately after your car accident can help to protect your insurance claim settlement in the long run.
Summary
- Seeking immediate medical care after a car accident is crucial for your health and can protect your insurance claim.
- Some injuries, like whiplash or internal damage, may not be immediately apparent, making a prompt medical evaluation essential.
- Choosing the right doctor, whether an emergency room, urgent care, or primary physician, is important to ensure proper treatment and documentation.
- Proper medical records and documentation are key to building a strong case for compensation with the help of a car accident attorney.
One of the best ways to protect your legal options after a car accident is to go see a doctor as soon as possible. With medical evidence, a car accident attorney can mount an effective case for compensation on your behalf. Get the support you need by calling 1-800-320-HELP or submitting a contact form to schedule a free consultation with WHG.
Understanding Car Accident Injuries
Car accident injuries can range from minor to life-threatening. These injuries can have a great impact on one’s life, no matter the severity, and receiving proper early treatment can help prevent the worsening of these injuries.
Some injuries, like whiplash, nerve damage, or internal injuries, can be masked by adrenaline. So, even if you feel uninjured after your accident, it’s vital to seek treatment, as the adrenaline you’re experiencing could be masking something more serious.
Common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Cuts and bruises
- Broken bones (fractures)
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, tears)
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Severe injuries, such as life-threatening injuries, should be looked at right away. For these types of injuries, you’ll likely be taken away in an ambulance if someone calls 911. If you’re conscious and not critically injured, you should still see a medical professional as soon as possible for an evaluation.
In most cases, you should seek medical care immediately after leaving the car accident scene. Once you’re able to leave—often after being dismissed by the investigating officer—you should head directly to an urgent care center or emergency room.
If, for some reason, you are unable to go directly to the doctor after leaving the accident scene, it is absolutely vital that you see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. Waiting longer than 48 hours can damage your claim. If you wait more than two days, insurance companies could claim that your injuries aren’t serious. They’ll use this as an excuse to offer you a low settlement. Don’t give them the opportunity.
Choosing the Right Doctor
Any doctor you choose to treat your injuries should be fine as long as you’re seeing them in a timely manner. If you have sustained major, critical injuries, you’ll likely be taken to an emergency room by ambulance.
But if you have minor injuries and get to decide the type of doctor to see, you’ll want to make sure to choose one that specializes in medical evaluations after motor vehicle accidents. For this, you could go to an emergency room or urgent care. You could also make a prompt appointment with your primary care physician.
After your evaluation, you’ll receive a treatment plan. This treatment plan could include following up with your primary care doctor, seeing a specialist, scheduling further testing, taking certain prescriptions, booking surgery, etc.
The Importance of Medical Treatment for Your Claim
Medical treatment is not only vital for ensuring your injuries heal properly, but it also serves as crucial evidence for your car accident claim. Your medical records will showcase the pain and suffering you’ve experienced since the accident, as well as any financial debt you’ve incurred.
Most importantly, your medical records will show a clear connection between the accident and your injuries, proving that the at-fault party is responsible for the damage you’ve suffered.
For these reasons, you’ll want to keep a detailed record of all the treatment you receive from doctors, specialists, hospitals, and more. Keep receipts of everything you pay for, from prescriptions to surgery, and even take notes about how you’ve been feeling along the way.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) reports that there are over 6.4 million auto accidents in the United States each year, 98% of which are caused by human error or negligence. Unfortunately, if you drive a car on the regular, it’s very likely that you’ll get into an accident at least once in your lifetime.
Learn more: Florida Car Accident Statistics
However, with the help of an experienced car accident attorney, you won’t have to stress about getting the compensation you deserve for your damages. Our team of attorneys can help you receive full and fair compensation for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We’ll build your case, collecting your vital medical records and other evidence to ensure you get the best settlement possible.
Not only will we build your case and negotiate a settlement on your behalf, but we’ll also remind you to follow your treatment plan, check in on how you’re doing, and answer any legal questions you have about the process along the way.
Documenting the Accident and Your Injuries
Evidence can make or break a car accident claim. Without proper evidence, you won’t be able to prove that the at-fault driver acted with negligence or that your injuries were a result of the accident. Critical evidence in car accident cases often includes:
- Images and videos from the scene of the crime
- Written witness statements
- Expert witness statements
- Personal statements
- Medical records
By documenting as much as possible at the scene of the accident, you can start your case off in the right direction. To do this, take pictures and videos at the scene, making sure to get shots of any vehicles involved in the accident, the surrounding area, and your injuries.
While at the scene, you can also speak with any witnesses. Get their contact information and encourage them to speak with the investigating police officer. Having a witness statement on an official police record is incredibly strong evidence that is hard to refute.
Next Steps After a Car Accident
Following these steps can help to protect your case and insurance claims. First and foremost, you should ensure that everyone at the scene of the accident is safe. Move out of danger, like to the side of the road, and contact 911 if anyone is critically injured. Then, you can follow these steps.
- If 911 wasn’t called, contact the local police line to report an accident. They’ll send out an officer to file a police report.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Do not talk about fault or apologize in any way. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be misconstrued in court.
- While waiting for the officer to arrive, take pictures and videos of the scene, all involved vehicles, the surrounding area, your injuries, and anything else you think would be helpful to capture.
- Talk to witnesses and gather their contact information. Encourage them to stick around and speak with the police officer when they arrive.
- Give your statement to the investigating police officer.
- Seek medical attention immediately after leaving the scene. Seeing a doctor for medical care after a car accident, as we’ve established, is of the utmost importance for your case.
- Before contacting your insurance company, speak with an experienced car accident attorney. Insurance companies will try to get you to settle as fast as possible. They may even offer quick cash over the phone to prevent you from hiring a lawyer and seeking a larger sum. By contacting a lawyer first, you can prevent accidental damage to your case.
Contact Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia to Speak with an Experienced and Passionate Car Accident Attorney
Now that you know how absolutely vital it is to seek medical attention after a car accident, both for your health and well-being, it’s time to think about hiring a car accident attorney to help you get the settlement offer you deserve. Our personal injury attorneys can offer the expertise and experience you need.
To learn more about Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia and how we can help you receive full and fair compensation for your car accident injuries, please contact us at 1-800-320-HELP or submit a contact form to schedule a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Attention After a Car Accident
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Florida?
In Florida, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim with your insurance company. However, you should file your car accident claim as soon as possible to ensure evidence is fresh and easily accessible.
Do I need to hire a car accident lawyer for my case?
You don’t need to hire a car accident attorney, but by hiring an attorney, you can be confident in knowing that you’ll receive a much higher settlement than you ever would without one. Plus, they can help to take a lot of stress off your shoulders.
How much does a car accident lawyer cost?
Car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay for anything upfront, and they’ll only receive payment if they secure a settlement. Once you receive a settlement, your lawyer will take a percentage as payment.
How do I file an insurance claim with my insurance company?
Filing an insurance claim can sound daunting, but it’s usually as easy as filling out a form on their website or speaking to someone over the phone. However, make sure you have an attorney on your side first. Insurance companies can be sneaky, and they’ll try to get you to settle for little money before hiring an auto accident attorney.
