Why Medical Attention is So Important After a Car Accident

The moments after a car accident may feel like a bad dream. You’re not sure if your car is even drivable, you’re not certain if you’re injured or not, and you have no idea what to do next. A surprising amount of accident victims decide not to seek medical care after an accident. This is a huge mistake. Find out why and learn how a medical checkup can benefit you.

Getting the right legal assistance after a car accident can make the difference between no settlement and a fair settlement. Call Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell at our Chatom office at 251-336-3411 or our Bay Minette office at 251-336-3697 now to schedule a meeting.

Many Injuries Are Hidden or Delayed

You may think that if you aren’t experiencing any immediate pain, you aren’t injured. This is a common misconception. The fact is that a surprising amount of injuries are not immediately visible after an accident.

When you’re in a life-or-death situation—or what your body perceives to be a life-or-death situation—your body releases a ton of adrenaline to mask pain and give you the energy you need to get away from the threat. That’s why pain may take hours to set in after a crash. Up until that point, adrenaline was hiding your true pain levels.

This includes some very serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding. Truly, you have no idea what the crash did to your body. A full checkup can give you the treatment you need and peace of mind.

Your Prognosis May Depend on Prompt Treatment

Quite a few injuries depend on prompt detection and treatment. The longer you wait to get these injuries checked out, the worst your prognosis is. For example, internal bleeding is an injury that is always fatal when left untreated.

By the time it becomes obvious that something is wrong, you may just have minutes to get emergency care. The best possible outcome of a checkup is that nothing is wrong; in that case, you can rest easy knowing that you are safe. But if you are injured, prompt medical care could be a matter of life or death.

Medical Evidence is Part of Your Personal Injury Claim

Are you planning on seeking compensation for the car accident? Then it is extremely important that you get checked out as quickly as possible after the crash. The insurance company isn’t just going to pay up a fair settlement because you say you’re hurt. They will need conclusive proof. Medical records, treatment records, medical bills, and doctor’s reports are all important pieces of evidence. The sooner you get to the doctor, the longer your paper trail will be.

Keep the Insurance Company from Doubting Your Claims

Perhaps you are wondering if you really have to go to the doctor right away. It can wait—right? What’s the rush?

The rush is that you must be able to show that your injuries were the result of the car accident. The shorter the wait is between the accident and your doctor’s appointment, the harder it is for the insurance company to poke holes in your claim.

This is a common tactic used by insurance companies. If there’s a long gap between your accident and appointment, they may question whether or not your injuries were even caused by the crash. They may say that your injuries were caused by a completely unrelated event and you’re just trying to get them to pay for it. Insurance companies do this even when your injuries are consistent with a car accident.

Remember, insurance companies do not want to pay what you deserve for your crash. You have to do everything you can to prove your injuries and keep them from casting doubt on what happened. Immediate medical care is an easy way to do this.

Need Help with Your Case? Call Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell

Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side can make a big difference in the outcome of your car accident claim. Let us help. Call Turner, Onderdonk, Kimbrough & Howell at our Chatom office at 251-336-3411 or our Bay Minette office at 251-336-3697 or get in touch with us online to schedule a consultation now.