If you are involved in a car accident, you should seek medical help even if you have minor injuries or don’t have visible ones. Ignoring treatment may worsen injuries and negatively impact your claim against the other driver.
Here is why you should get medical help after a car accident:
Discover injuries
When you are involved in an accident, you may experience a powerful adrenaline rush. This can increase your body’s strength as part of the fight and flight response. But it can reduce pain sensitivity, which means you may be unable to tell if you are injured hours or even days after an accident. A timely medical evaluation helps discover injuries, and, in turn, the doctor can treat them before they worsen.
Protect your legal claim
When you file a car accident claim against the other driver, you will provide medical records to show the expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident to be compensated.
If you take too long to get medical help, the other driver’s insurance company may argue other factors outside the accident caused your injuries. Accordingly, their policyholder may not be responsible for the damages.
Further, they may claim that your injuries are not as serious as you state to lower their payout. With timely and detailed medical records, you can prove the extent and severity of your injuries. Remember you need to file any claim within the state’s statute of limitations.
Getting medical help is crucial after a car accident. You should also consider legal guidance to receive the compensation you deserve.