Why You Should Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident can be a difficult and unsettling experience. Such an unfortunate event usually leaves victims with physical injuries. In severe cases, the accident victim may be hospitalized, incapacitated, or become unable to work. Notwithstanding the severity and nature of your injuries, seeking adequate medical treatment is vital for your health, safety, legal, and insurance purposes.
At Duncan and Nobles LLC, we're poised and ready to assist, guide, and represent car accident victims in their injury claims. Our proficient South Carolina personal injury attorneys can explain the benefits of seeking medical attention after the accident and explore your possible legal options to recover damages. Our firm is proud to serve clients in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and throughout Lancaster and Chester counties.
Common Injuries After an Accident
A traffic crash may result in minor or serious injuries to the driver, passengers, or other road users involved in the auto accident. Here are some of the most common injuries after a car accident:
Arm and leg injuries
Whiplash
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Concussions
Soft tissue injuries
Bruising
Internal bleeding
Disfigurement
Broken ribs
Back or neck injuries
Broken arms, hips, legs, and shoulders
Traumatic brain injuries
Chest injuries
Herniated discs
Scrapes and cuts
Knee trauma
Head injuries
When involved in a traffic crash, the next steps you take after the accident is crucial. However, your major concern should be your health, safety, and general wellbeing. Therefore, you should seek medical help as soon as possible, regardless of how severe your injuries might be.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Many accident victims often overlook or delay getting medical help because they feel fine or only sustained minor injuries which will heal over time. Notwithstanding, you should still visit a physician even if you believe you're fine. Here are some reasons to get medical attention after a car accident:
For Your Health and Safety
After a car accident, your overall health, safety, and general wellbeing need to be your priority. Even if you came out unscratched or only sustained minor injuries, you should still turn to a qualified doctor for adequate medical treatment.
At times, it can take many days or weeks for your injuries and symptoms to manifest fully. Thus, the earlier you receive medical help, the faster you can detect hidden injuries, get adequate treatment, and begin your recovery journey.
For Proper Documentation of Your Injuries
What's more, receiving immediate medical help is vital for proper documentation of your injuries. Health records, doctor's visits, clinical examinations, and other medical documents can record and indicate the extent of your injuries, as well as the type of medical treatments received. All these records will form a crucial aspect of the documentation for your insurance claims.
To Comply With Insurance Requirements
Also, a lot of insurance providers in South Carolina have policies that state a limited time for accident victims to get medical attention so as to be eligible for compensation. Therefore, you need to get medical help immediately after the incident to comply with insurance requirements.
To Avoid Issues With the Insurance Company
In addition, the insurance carrier may use your decision to avoid or delay seeking medical attention as evidence that you weren't probably injured, your injuries were blown up, or your injuries were from another incident. With this, the insurance can undervalue or deny your injury claims.
Follow Through With the Treatment Plan
However, getting adequate medical attention isn't where it stops. You also need to follow through with your treatment plan. Your medical doctor may design a personalized treatment plan for you. This may consist of routine checkups, physical therapy, prescription medication, or other procedures. Generally, following through with the treatment plan will speed up your recovery and help with your insurance claims.
For instance, if you missed the doctor's visit or failed to take your medications, the insurer might argue that you missed them because your injuries aren't really serious. As a result, the insurer may refuse to cover the cost of treatment, medications, or therapy associated with your recovery.
Also, the insurance carrier may argue that your health condition deteriorated due to your negligence or failure to follow through with the treatment plan. Unfortunately, this may be used to deny or undervalue your personal injury claims. Therefore, ensure that you follow the treatment plan strictly and check in with your medical and legal team regularly.
Recovery Starts With a Call
A car accident may cause a bodily injury or trauma, which may affect your physical, mental, and financial health. Even if you believe you're fine, not injured, or you only suffered mild injuries, getting immediate medical attention is essential for personal and legal reasons. A diligent personal injury attorney can advocate for your best interests and help you pursue the financial justice you deserve.
At Duncan and Nobles LLC, our lawyers have the diligence, resources, and expertise to assist and represent clients in their auto accident claims. In addition, we can review and examine all of the elements of your specific circumstances and determine the best way to proceed with your insurance claims. Above all, we have the resources necessary to fight and protect your legal rights and help you seek the maximum possible compensation for your injuries.
Do not delay seeking medical help after an auto accident. Contact Duncan and Nobles LLC today to schedule an easy case assessment with trusted car accident lawyers. Our trained legal team has the loyal representation, support, and personalized legal counsel you need in your personal injury claims. We're proud to serve clients in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and throughout Lancaster and Chester counties.