After a car accident, the chaos and adrenaline can make you miss potential injuries especially if you don’t feel immediate pain. Many injuries don’t show up until hours or days later. While it’s never too late to get medical attention after a car accident, delaying care can have consequences for your health and your ability to get compensated. Insurance companies will use your delay as an excuse to deny or reduce your car accident claim, making it harder to prove your injuries were caused by the accident.
In this post, we will discuss the importance of going to a doctor immediately after a car accident, the risks of delaying treatment, and how working with an Atlanta car accident lawyer can help protect your health and your rights.
Why You Should Go to a Doctor Right Away
Accidents can cause injuries that aren’t immediately visible. Some injuries like cuts or fractures are obvious, while a car accident injury may require specialized medical care and support to address both physical and emotional well-being. No matter how you feel after an accident, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying medical care puts your health at risk and can also jeopardize any future insurance or legal claims you may need to make.
Hidden Injuries Have Delayed Symptoms
Some car accident injuries like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), whiplash, or internal trauma have delayed symptoms. For example, TBIs can cause headaches, dizziness, or memory problems but these symptoms may not show up until hours or days after the accident. Whiplash caused by the back-and-forth motion of the neck can start as mild stiffness and develop into severe pain or limited mobility 24 to 72 hours later.
Internal injuries like damage to organs or internal bleeding can be life-threatening if not caught early. Serious injuries are not always immediately apparent due to shock and adrenaline. These injuries are not visible and may not have immediate symptoms. By getting to a doctor right away you can detect and treat these hidden injuries before they get worse.
Medical Records Are Crucial for Insurance and Legal Claims
Getting to a doctor right away for initial medical treatment not only protects your health but also your legal and insurance claims. Medical records linking your injuries to the accident are key if you plan to get compensated. Insurance companies will question delayed medical treatment and argue that the injury wasn’t serious or that it wasn’t caused by the accident. Without immediate medical records, you risk not getting fair compensation for your injuries and any associated costs like lost wages or future medical expenses.
Legal Deadlines and Insurance Requirements
Knowing the time limits and expectations for medical treatment after a car accident is key. Both insurance companies and the legal system have deadlines that can impact your ability to get compensated for your injuries. Acting fast will protect your rights and increase your chances of a fair settlement. Timely medical treatment and comprehensive documentation are crucial for strengthening your personal injury claim.
Insurance Company Expectations
Most car insurance companies expect accident victims to get medical attention within 72 hours of the accident. This time frame is critical because insurers will use delay in treatment as an excuse to reduce or deny claims. They will argue if you didn’t get care right away your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim or that they were caused by something else entirely.
Getting to a doctor fast will prevent these problems. Even if your injuries seem minor or you don’t feel pain right away going to a doctor will document any underlying issues. This will protect you from future disputes with your insurer and help you get a better outcome in your claim.
Statute of Limitations
In Georgia, you have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit after a Georgia car accident. The statute of limitations in Georgia is typically 2 years from the date of the accident. If you don’t file your lawsuit within this time frame, you could lose your right to seek compensation for your injuries entirely. It’s important to act promptly to protect your legal rights.
Delayed Medical Treatment Risks
Delaying medical treatment after a car crash can have serious consequences for your health and your ability to get compensated. While it may be tempting to “wait and see” if symptoms get worse, putting off seeing a doctor will complicate your recovery and weaken your case.
Long Term Health Complications
Car accident victims face one of the biggest risks of delayed medical treatment: long-term health complications. Injuries that seem minor at first like soft tissue damage or mild concussions can get worse over time without proper care. For example, what starts as mild neck pain can turn into chronic pain or limited mobility if left untreated. Internal injuries or brain trauma may not have immediate symptoms but can be life-threatening if ignored.
Getting a timely diagnosis will allow doctors to address these issues before they become severe. It will also increase your chances of a full recovery and potentially avoid invasive treatments or surgery that may be needed if the condition gets worse.
Compensation
Delaying medical treatment after car accidents will also impact your ability to get compensated for insurance claims or lawsuits. When you delay going to a doctor it will be harder to prove your injuries were caused by the car accident. Insurance adjusters will argue the delay means the injury is unrelated or not as bad as you claim.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Taking the right steps immediately after a car accident injury will protect your health and legal rights. Knowing what to do will prevent long-term problems and get you compensated for any injuries or damages.
Get Medical Attention
Your first step after an accident should be to go to a doctor, even if you don’t feel hurt. Some injuries like internal bleeding or whiplash may not have symptoms right away. A doctor can find hidden injuries and treat them before they get worse.
If paramedics are on the scene follow their advice on whether you should go to the hospital. Ignoring medical advice will put your health at risk and weaken any future car accident claim you may need to make.
Follow Medical Instructions
After seeking initial medical treatment, follow through with any prescribed treatment or follow-up appointments. Not following treatment or ignoring medical advice will not only jeopardize your recovery but also weaken your case. Insurers will argue you contributed to your injuries by not getting proper care.
Follow all medical advice to help document your injuries and show you are taking it seriously. This will support your claim and increase your chances of winning.
Talk to a Lawyer
As soon as possible, talk to a car accident lawyer to ensure your claim is strong. A lawyer will guide you through the process of dealing with insurance companies and protect your rights. They can also help gather evidence like medical records and accident reports that will be crucial in building your case.
Seek the Help of an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Today!
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, don’t wait to go to a doctor and get the legal support you deserve, as serious injuries may not be immediately apparent. Delaying could put your health at risk and jeopardize your ability to receive fair compensation. Our team at Buddoo & Associates will help guide you through the process, ensuring you get the medical care and financial recovery you’re entitled to.
Contact us at 404-870-3557 for a free case consultation today!
