The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Car Accident: Protecting Your Health and Your Case

After a car accident, you may be suffering from serious injuries that will affect your health, your day to day life, ability to work and do the things you enjoy. Unfortunately, it is common. Car accidents are responsible for causing around 50 million injuries worldwide every single year.

If you were recently involved in a crash, don’t delay getting medical attention. Seeking professional medical help is one of the first things you should do after your accident. Seeking medical attention after an accident is not only to ensure your health, but also to protect your car accident case that you may have against the at-fault driver for damages.

Getting Medical Attention to Begin Your Recovery

The most important reason to get medical attention for your injuries after your accident is to begin the process of recovery while your case moves forward. Your life will likely be turned upside down due to the accident and medical care is part of what will help make you whole again.

You also want to know the full extent of your injuries so that when you file your case for damages against the at-fault driver you know just how serious your injuries are and the extent of the damages you have suffered. “Many victims sustain permanent complications as a result of their collisions, which require extensive and long-term medical care,” note accident experts at Vanguard Attorneys. Understanding what to expect from your injuries and how your life can change with the impact of certain injuries or conditions is important for the healing process.

Delayed Injuries Happen

Injuries from an accident may not show up right away. Some delayed injuries can take hours, days or even weeks to notice. By seeking medical attention immediately, you can help identify potentially life-threatening injuries or medical conditions. Proper medical personnel can run the proper tests and then follow up regularly if you notice you have new injuries or symptoms.

Delayed symptoms of a car accident injury can include:

• General fatigue 
• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Chest pain
• Shoulder pain
• Whiplash
• Muscle stiffness and soreness
• Trouble sleeping
• Blurred vision or dizziness
• Memory problems

Duty of Care

After an accident you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party to recover compensation for damages. If you choose to do so, you have the duty to care for your injuries after the accident so that they do not get any worse. This is to protect the at-fault party from paying for damages that were not the result of the car crash.

If you fail to get to a doctor or emergency room and your injuries get worse, this could damage your case. By failing to seek prompt medical attention, you may reduce the amount of compensation you are able to recover.

Getting your injuries treated and documented right after your accident and making sure they do not get any worse because of neglect is your responsibility. Any breach of this responsibility could negatively impact your case. Follow the advice and instructions provided by medical professionals. Common medical responsibilities following a car accident injury include: follow-up appointments, undergoing tests or procedures, taking prescribed medications and following rehabilitation or therapy programs. By adhering to medical advice, you demonstrate you are taking steps to recover and prevent further harm.

If you fail to follow the medical guidance, you may make your case harder to prove and make it more difficult to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered.

Gathering Evidence

Seeking medical attention after your accident is also critical as it will serve as proof of the injuries sustained in the car crash. When you file a case to recover compensation, you will need as much proof as possible to show the extent and severity of your injuries. You will also need to note the effects that you suffered as a result in order to get the maximum compensation that you deserve.

Types of evidence in a car accident case can include:

• Doctor’s notes
• Test results
• Scans
• X-rays
• Medications prescribed 
• Psychiatric session notes
• Photos of medical services
• Physical therapy

Having medical evidence of your injuries and treatments will also help prove other parts of your case like missing work, travel expenses, home healthcare expenses and other such damages.

The more serious your injuries and the more treatment you require for recovery or maximum medical improvement, the more compensation you are likely entitled to in your case.

Extensive medical treatment for serious injuries can include:

• Hospitalization
• Specialist consultations
• Surgery
• Assistive devices
• Assistive systems
• Cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Rehabilitation

Proper Medical Attention Can Make a Difference

Seeking prompt medical attention after a car accident is important to keep you safe and to begin your recovery. Not only do you need the care from a doctor to begin the healing process, but you have a legal responsibility to get treated if you want to seek damages for your accident. It is also important that you document everything that is wrong or hurts immediately after the accident.

Filing a Case

Once you have been to a doctor or have been evaluated by another medical professional, you can start building your car accident case to seek financial compensation. An experienced auto accident attorney can help walk you through the insurance claims process and fight for your right to compensation if your case progresses to court.

Working with an attorney can help strengthen your claim by identifying additional avenues of compensation and other parties that may be liable for your injuries or losses. An attorney will also have the resources to connect with experts to provide estimates of long term care and long term losses after an accident. If you are considering filing a claim, meeting with an attorney can help identify the value of your claim. If you are unsure where to start and what evidence you may need, consider hiring a car accident attorney to get appropriate legal help with the process.