How Quickly Should You Seek Medical Attention After an Auto Accident?
People involved in auto accidents, more often than not, do not always seek medical attention right away. Common reasons people do not go and see a doctor after an auto accident is due to the pain not being felt immediately or they hope the pain will subside. The decision to wait instead of going to see a doctor right away is a mistake. If you are involved in an auto accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Insurance companies often believe that if you are not hurt badly enough to seek immediate medical attention, you are not hurt badly enough to deserve compensation for your injuries. As the victim, you are responsible for proving that your injuries were caused by the accident and not some “pre-existing” condition or other cause. If you wait several days after an accident to seek medical treatment, the opposing party’s insurance company will try to argue that there was some other event that occurred, after the accident, that is causing your pain.
When you seek immediate medical attention, following your accident, and your doctor requires you to come back for further treatment, it is vital that you do not miss any of your follow up medical appointments. When you skip doctor or therapy appointments, you open the door for the opposing side’s insurance company to argue that you must not have been hurt as badly as you are claiming; and you must not have cared about getting better. If your claim is not settled and your case ends up in a jury trial, it is very difficult to explain to a jury why you missed scheduled doctor and therapy visits.
It is also crucial to keep a file of all medical documentation provided to you from your doctor(s). This information can help your attorney add value to your claim and possibly ensure that you receive the money you need to fully recover. Information such as:
- Details of the accident
- Any pre-existing injuries and conditions
- Any medical testing and blood work
- Any specialized testing, such as MRIs, X-rays, CT Scans, etc.
- Referrals to other specialists for pain management or surgeries
- How your car accident likely affected your pre-existing conditions
- Details of how your injuries will likely affect your future post-accident life, ability to work, and perform basic daily care
Once you’ve been seen by a doctor, please do not hesitate to call the attorneys at Kelli Haas & Associates at (615) 567-7303 or email us directly at kelli@khalawgroup.com or michael@khalawgroup.com. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve to get you back on your feet.
