If you are in a car accident, you should almost always go to the doctor immediately. Continue reading to learn why getting medical attention after an auto accident is essential.
Long-Term Health
First, you need to take care of your health after a car accident. Even if you think you will be fine, you never know when your injury is more severe than you realized.
Some crash victims have injuries that don’t hurt at first, such as whiplash, concussion, or internal bleeding. However, if they delay treatment, the injury could worsen or even become fatal.
Seeing a doctor immediately ensures that you receive prompt medical treatment that will get you on the road to recovery.
Also, your car accident attorney will rely on your medical records to build the best case for a favorable settlement or judgment. Therefore, you should be sure to have the most detailed medical records regarding your injury from day one so you get the most compensation.
Avoid Insurance Denials
You could easily have thousands of dollars in medical bills from a car accident, especially if there is a hospital stay or surgery involved. Going to the doctor immediately ensures there is plenty of documentation of your injuries, which matters when negotiating with the insurance company.
Insurance companies are in business to make more money than they pay out, and they do this by paying as little as they can in claims. So their goal is to settle your car accident claim for little or nothing.
The insurance company will go through your medical records with a fine-toothed comb to find anything that can reduce the claim’s value. Waiting several days to go to the doctor will almost guarantee the insurance adjuster will question your claim.
If you try to get over your injuries on your own but go to the doctor a week later, the insurance company could deny your claim outright. They may argue that your injuries weren’t that serious or you would have gotten treatment the same day.
This tactic isn’t fair, but it’s common, and how insurance companies save themselves money. In addition, going to the doctor immediately makes it more difficult for insurance companies to question your claim.
Medical Treatment Provides Evidence
Going to the doctor provides medical evidence of your injuries that can get you more compensation. The longer you put off going to the doctor, the harder it will be to connect your injuries to the car accident.
Medical records also help your car accident lawyer build your case if you need to file a personal injury lawsuit to get adequate compensation.
The jury will be influenced by doctor’s notes, x-rays, and medical bills related to your injuries if the case goes that far. Without medical records, it’s almost impossible to prove your case.
Remember, going to a doctor as soon as possible after the car accident may be difficult. But taking the time to do that can pay off later when you file the case with the insurance company or court.
With all of your medical evidence, the insurance company will often be persauded that it’s best to make a fair settlement than take a risk with a trial. After all, the jury could make the insurance company pay much more.
So, go to the doctor after your car accident. You’ll be glad you did.
