Being in a car accident is a distressing and shocking experience. Initially, you may not feel pain or other symptoms, so you may forgo seeing a doctor. But whether or not have visible injuries, you must seek medical evaluation and treatment. This can help identify any underlying problems or conditions and make sure you get proper medical care. Also, your medical documentation plays an important role when you seek legal help after a car accident.
Sadly, a lot of people do not seek immediate medical attention after a car accident. They have different reasons for their decision. But regardless of their reason, seeing a doctor is important for both their health and legal claim.
Why People Don’t See a Doctor After a Car Accident
Below are common reasons people do not get a medical checkup after being in a car wreck:
- They lack health insurance. The cost is the main barrier for people to forgo medical evaluations after a car accident. But even if you do not have this insurance, you may be able to explore other options like government programs to cover the cost of your treatment.
- They assume they are okay. A lot of injuries may not be apparent right after a crash. An example of these injuries are soft tissue injuries and concussions. If you seek medical attention, you will get a prompt diagnosis and effective treatment.
- A doctor’s visit is too stressful to deal with. For some people, a visit to a doctor is an added stress that they do not want to handle. But seeing a doctor can help relieve some of your stress and address any mental health issues that can arise following a crash.
How Refusing to Seek Medical Attention Can Affect Your Claim
After a car accident, seeing medical attention immediately is important. Refusing or delaying it can have serious consequences for both your health and your ability to bring a legal claim. Insurers may argue that you are not as seriously injured as you claim or that your injuries did not directly result from the accident.
Additionally, the longer you delay a doctor’s visit the harder it can be to show that your injuries happened because of the other party’s negligence that resulted in the car accident. It can make it harder to recover monetary compensation for your damages.
Where to Get Medical Treatment
After a car accident, you can seek medical treatment from any of the following places:
- Emergency room. After sustaining serious injuries in a car accident, a visit to the emergency room is essential. The ER will provide you with immediate medical attention.
- Urgent care. This is the ideal place to visit after experiencing moderate discomfort or pain without requiring emergency medical attention. An urgent care facility can offer treatment for injuries that are not life-threatening.
- Primary care doctor. Make an appointment with a primary care doctor if you do not have visible symptoms and injuries. The doctor can evaluate your condition and recommend follow-up care as needed.
Why Follow Your Treatment Plan
Once you have obtained an initial medical evaluation and treatment from a doctor, follow through with the follow-up care they recommend. The doctor’s recommendation may include more doctor’s visits and physical therapy. Following your treatment plan helps with your fast recovery. Also, it can help you avoid long-term health problems and complications, which can happen if injuries are not treated properly.
Additionally, fast recovery is important to reach maximum medical improvement. After you have fully recovered from your injuries as declared by your doctor, you and your car accident attorney can calculate the extent of your damages and demand appropriate compensation for your losses.