If you have been in a car accident, you may come out of it without any apparent pain or injury. If so, you may feel like you’ve been spared the trouble of going to a doctor or a hospital, and that you are free and clear. Just because you feel fine does not mean you should not seek medical attention after a car accident, though. Here are five reasons why:
- You may not feel the pain from an injury right away
- People can be extremely resilient in the face of adversity, which is normally a good thing. This same resilience, however, can cause them to not notice the effects of an injury until days, weeks, or even months after they’ve been hurt. This delay in treatment can result in an injury from a car accident becoming far worse, resulting in potential complications and longer recovery times.
- Not all injuries have obvious effects
- Another possible issue is that not every injury is immediately obvious, even if you are suffering from its effects. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are particularly notorious for causing problems that are often not diagnosed until long after they have been inflicted, due to how easily their symptoms can be mistaken for more commonplace problems. This can lead to months of unnecessary suffering due to an undetected and untreated injury.
- You can catch potential problems early
- Often, by the time a less obvious injury makes itself apparent, it has already become substantially worse due to a lack of adequate treatment. The sooner you seek treatment, the easier it will be for your doctor to appropriately treat. On the other hand, if you wait until your pain and suffering become unmanageable, you could find yourself dealing with long-term health complications as a result.
- You will need evidence of your injuries for a lawsuit
- Aside from the importance of getting appropriate care for your injuries, getting immediate medical attention can help you legally, as well. When you get treated for injuries after a car accident, your doctor will create records that can then be submitted as evidence in court. These records will potentially be important to getting you appropriate compensation for all the harm you have suffered.
- Waiting longer can make it harder for your case
- On the other hand, if you wait to get treated for injuries after a car accident, you could find it harder to tie those injuries to the accident. The longer you wait, the easier it is for an insurer or lawyer to argue that you cannot prove your injuries were the result of the accident. This could reduce the amount of compensation you receive, or potentially cut you off from certain legal options entirely. Insurance companies will use anything they can to reduce the value of your lawsuit.
The New York personal injury attorneys at Duffy & Duffy have decades of experience in handling personal injury and medical malpractice issues. With our offices conveniently located in Uniondale, we are ready to assist you with your case and ensure it receives the personal attention it deserves. If you want to learn more or receive a free consultation, give us a call at (516) 394-4200, or visit our contact page.
