After a car accident, you might feel fine.
In fact, you could walk away from even a serious accident, with the increased adrenaline masking catastrophic internal injuries. Because of this phenomenon, it is important that you seek medical care immediately after an accident – regardless of how you feel. Not only is it important for your health, but it could be critical for any potential claims you may have in the future.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Sometimes, symptoms of a catastrophic injury might be apparent immediately after the accident. Other times, it could take a few hours, days, or even weeks for these symptoms to appear. The longer you wait, the harder it might be to treat – and the longer it could take to recover from your injuries.
More so, when it comes to a personal injury claim, it is important that you seek medical treatment right away for two major reasons.
- The longer you wait for medical treatment, the harder it will be to prove that your injuries actually arose from the accident – and not at a later time.
- Your risk of your injuries getting more serious increases the longer you go without treatment.
Injuries Might Not be Apparent Right Away
Some injuries do not appear right away. For example, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is very common in even minor accidents. These injuries will not be apparent right away – but you may eventually notice that you are disoriented, confused, or have unexplained headaches.
While you might assume the minor hit to your head was nothing, it could be early signs of a concussion or severe TBI. Therefore, if you were to fail to receive medical treatment right away, the results could be catastrophic.
Even if you do not have noticeable symptoms, a physician can use tests to see if there is internal damage. Diagnostic scans are helpful in finding:
- Brain tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bone injuries
- Acute injuries
Once you have a proper diagnosis, you can receive treatment.
Your Legal Obligations
You have a legal obligation to seek medical treatment and reduce the costs and complications of your injuries. If you fail to receive medical treatment soon after an accident, the defense might argue that you were the cause of any complications – and that covering your extensive medical bills is no longer an issue of the defendant’s fault.
Consult with an Injury Attorney
Regardless of when you receive medical treatment, it is important to speak with an injury attorney about your case. An experienced attorney can assess your case, and help guide you through the process of recovering money for your damages.
Speak with attorney Seth Gladstein at Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC today by calling 502-791-9000 or request more information online.
