The moments following a car accident can be traumatic and confusing, to say the least. It is not uncommon for the brain to be muddled by the shock and trauma. Add to these the soaring adrenaline and you will barely tell what is going on in your body.
Unfortunately, the disorientation caused by the accident’s trauma often prompts most victims to overlook the need to see a doctor for examination and treatment of their injuries. However, this can be a huge mistake.
Here are three reasons why you need to seek medical attention immediately after a car accident.
Your health is crucial
Even if you do not feel any serious pain after the accident, it is still important that you see a doctor. Some injuries take longer to manifest, and delaying their diagnosis and treatment can worsen your condition. The sooner your injuries are accurately diagnosed and a treatment plan initiated, the sooner you will likely get back on your feet.
Your injuries need to be documented
It is important that your auto accident injuries are properly documented. The longer you wait to see a doctor and have your injuries documented, the more difficult it will be linking them to the accident. And if you cannot link injuries to the car accident that you claim caused them, then you will certainly have a difficult time proving your personal injury claim against the defendant.
The defendant can use your failure to seek treatment against you
If you fail to seek treatment immediately following a car accident and then file a personal injury claim later, the defendant and their insurance carrier are likely to devalue or dispute your claim by arguing that your injury was not serious enough. Worse still, they may argue that the injury for which you are seeking compensation did not result from the accident.
It is not unusual to feel overwhelmed if you have been involved in a car accident. Find out how you can safeguard your rights and interests while pursuing a personal injury claim following a car accident that was not your fault.
