A minor car crash can have major repercussions. If you delay seeing a doctor after the mishap, you may put your health at further risk, weaken an insurance claim and jeopardize a court hearing. Many people believe that they have to muster up their fortitude and just tough it out. It is not, however, a sign of weakness to see a doctor to repair your health and protect your future.
At the Law Offices of David Kohm we understand that it’s imperative to see a doctor after an auto accident. Here’s why:
See a Doctor Within 72 Hours of a Car Accident
Seeing a doctor within 72 hours of the accident is crucial. If you’re careless about seeing a doctor during that time frame, you may derail your insurance claim. The insurance company will conclude that if you were, indeed, seriously injured then you would have seen a doctor immediately. They would infer that if you weren’t injured badly enough to see a doctor, you weren’t injured badly enough to receive compensation.
You may poke a hole in your authenticity as a witness by disregarding your doctor’s advice or missing appointments. Insurance companies and juries will likely see your records. Excuses, no matter how valid, are rarely considered.
Ideally, you have a physician with whom you have a good relationship, who can juggle his or her schedule to get you in immediately for medical assessment.
If this is not possible, go to the nearest walk-in clinic, emergency room or urgent care facility. Urgent care wait times are often less than the wait time at the emergency room. If you are severely injured however, you will likely be taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Many insurance agencies also recognize chiropractors as physicians. Chiropractors will not perform an adjustment on you, but will obtain your background information, conduct a physical exam, take X-rays and record the information. This sometimes satisfies the insurance requirement for a physician’s exam within the first 72 hours. Check with your insurance provider to be certain.
See a Doctor Even if You Have Minimal Pain or No Pain
After an accident, injuries (whiplash, for example) can take time to manifest because the body shoots adrenaline and endorphins into the bloodstream, increasing energy and masking pain.
If you’re not experiencing pain, and you fail to see a doctor, you might continue to use that body part as usual when, in fact, it’s being further injured by those actions.
Types of Injuries that You May Not be Able to Immediately Detect
- Internal injuries; internal bleeding
- Concussions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anxiety
- Soft tissue injuries
Following Your Doctor’s Advice
Insurance claims can be toppled by carelessness in following a precise medication regimen. Skipping doses, doubling doses and playing doctor is self-sabotage. You spin the roulette wheel every time you don’t comply with your doctor’s orders. In court, you may have to make the damning admission that you strayed from your doctor’s advice.
Don’t stop your course of treatment too soon. Again, your doctor will determine when to conclude your treatment. Insurance companies will equate halted treatment with recuperation.
If you’ve been injured in a car crash, the medical and insurance complexities can be daunting. A seasoned car accident lawyer can astutely and compassionately guide you through the process and navigate its legalities. At the Law Offices of David Kohm we’ll fight to get the justifiable amount for your claim, and get you back to living life.
Call our law offices today at any of our convenient locations and get a free consultation.
You can also contact us online by using our quick contact form.
