During the immediate aftermath of a motor vehicle accident in Van Nuys, it’s common to experience a rush of adrenaline and a surge of stress hormones. Once the shock dissipates, you may feel happy to be alive and believe that your injuries are only minor bumps and bruises. However, it’s always in your best interest to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident—preferably straight from the accident scene, either in an ambulance or by arranging transportation to an emergency room. Some injuries have delayed symptoms, and the earliest signs of injury are often masked by adrenaline. Seeking medical care after an accident protects your physical well-being and your financial future.
Ask for a Complete Medical Evaluation After an Accident
Some car accident injuries are immediately discernible, such as a broken arm or an open wound, but others occur below the surface and take time to develop symptoms. In the emergency room, it’s crucial to request a comprehensive medical assessment in addition to treatment for your readily apparent injuries. This often identifies underlying injuries so you can begin treatment immediately, helping minimize the risk of further harm. For instance, common injuries with delayed symptoms include the following:
- Whiplash, which is caused by the overextension of the soft-tissue structures in the neck when the head whips back and forth
- Traumatic brain injuries may develop during the hours or days after an accident, as bruising or bleeding occurs inside the brain
- Internal bleeding and internal organ injuries may take time for noticeable symptoms to develop
- Back injuries may first cause only mild stiffness, but develop pain and decreased mobility as inflammation builds pressure against the nerves
- Soft-tissue injuries, such as sprains, torn ligaments, and tendon damage, may show noticeable symptoms hours after an accident as swelling increases
It’s always best to receive the earliest possible diagnosis of every injury after an accident so you can begin medical treatment to mitigate the damage and improve the prognosis. Seeking care immediately also demonstrates that receiving medical treatment was your primary focus after a serious accident.
How Does Seeking Medical Care After an Accident Help My Case?
When someone else’s actions caused your injury, you have the right to file a compensation claim against them to recover injury-related damages, like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. These claims are typically filed against the at-fault party’s insurance. Unfortunately, insurance companies often protect their profits at the injury victim’s expense. One way they manage this is by citing an injury victim’s delay in seeking medical treatment as “evidence” that they are not truly injured, or that the injury did not happen in the accident, but somewhere else.
Going directly from the accident scene to a hospital and having a doctor diagnose every injury provides key evidence that the injuries resulted from the at-fault party’s actions.
Ask your medical provider to document each injury, their treatment recommendations, and your prognosis for recovery on a detailed medical report.
Your medical report, medical bills, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses are key evidence in an injury claim.
Carefully Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan and Attend Every Appointment After an Accident
Following your doctor’s treatment plan is crucial for your health and well-being after an accident. Attend every appointment, fill every prescription, and follow your doctor’s orders carefully. This not only increases your chances of reaching maximum medical improvement for your injuries but also demonstrates your commitment to your recovery. Insurance companies sometimes seize upon an injury victim’s failure to attend a doctor’s appointment or to fill a prescription as “evidence” that they aren’t truly injured.
You Deserve a Full Recover After an Accident
When you suffer an injury through no fault of your own, you deserve not only the most complete physical recovery possible, but also financial recovery from injury-related expenses. By seeking medical attention and vigorously pursuing a full physical recovery, you also maximize your chances of a favorable financial outcome in your compensation claim.
