Seeing a doctor after an accident is important for both your health and for making a potential personal injury claim process go smoothly. You won’t always feel pain or discomfort after an accident because of the adrenaline and endorphins that were released in your body. Pain may also appear minor in the beginning but transform into a chronic condition later due to not being treated quickly.
Seeing a Doctor After an Accident May Catch Injuries That Don’t Present Any Symptoms
Serious injuries might not give you any pain or discomfort directly after an accident. You may think you walked away unscratched or with nothing more than a bruise, but the reality can be quite different. Common accident injuries that don’t always immediately show symptoms include traumatic brain injury, soft tissue injuries, concussion, back injuries, head injuries, fractures and spinal column injuries.
What if you went to the doctor and the pain after an accident was delayed? You should schedule another appointment and let your doctor know what symptoms you’re now experiencing. Some injuries are only detected weeks or months after an accident. Soft tissue injuries, for instance, don’t show up in X-rays.
The Fact That You Didn’t See a Doctor Directly After an Accident Can Be Used Against You
If you don’t see a doctor quickly after an accident, this will be used against you when you attempt to receive compensation. The opposing insurance company may claim that you are partially responsible for your medical bills because it wouldn’t have gotten as expensive if you had gone to the doctor sooner. In other words, they will argue that you failed to mitigate your damages. They may also argue that your injuries must not have been that bad if you didn’t go to the doctor right after the accident.
Never delay in seeing a doctor after an accident even if you don’t have symptoms. A Personal Injury Attorney, such as those at ZT Law Group, can help you find one if your primary care physician doesn’t provide checkups after accidents. You want to ensure you don’t have serious injuries and protect yourself from a tough legal struggle in getting the compensation you deserve if symptoms show up weeks later. It is always better to be safe than sorry.