Do I Need to See a Doctor After an Accident if I Feel Fine?

When you’re involved in an accident, whether you are rear-ended by a distracted driver or you slip and fall in a supermarket, you may be relieved to find that you feel okay in the moments after the accident. As such, you may decide against seeking medical care. However, as time progresses, you may begin to feel worse. Unfortunately, if you did not see a doctor promptly after an accident, it can impact your ability to recover the compensation you deserve. The following blog explores what you should know about these circumstances, including the importance of seeking prompt medical care and working with a Vero Beach injury lawyer to explore your legal options.

Why Should I See a Doctor if I Feel Okay Following an Accident?

After an accident, you may be incredibly relieved to feel completely fine, albeit shaken, from the events. As such, you may decide to decline medical care at the scene of the accident. Often, accident victims will decline care at the scene and avoid treatment initially, either out of optimism and adrenaline or fear of the costs of emergency and urgent care.

Unfortunately, some victims find that their failure to obtain care can come back to haunt them. Many concussions and certain orthopedic injuries do not fully manifest until days or even weeks after a trauma. Failing to get prompt care can defer a critical diagnosis and undermine your recovery.

Failing to get prompt care can also limit your financial and insurance recourse. For example, most car accident victims are eligible for personal injury protection benefits equivalent to $10,000 in medical care. This eligibility is time-limited, however. Under Florida law, you have 14 days following a car accident to qualify for personal injury protection benefits. If you do not seek medical care within this window, you can lose the right to recover compensation through your own insurance.

This type of delay in seeking initial treatment can also negatively affect a general personal injury claim, affording the insurance defense attorney the opportunity to argue that your injuries are not related to the accident at all. Insurance defense attorneys routinely blame new injuries on remote, obscure events. Delays in care can make these typically specious arguments more effective.

Even if you do seek care relatively promptly, any delay in seeking immediate medical attention can result in the defendant claiming your injuries aren’t severe. This can drastically reduce your compensation. In some instances, insurance defense attorneys may even claim that your failure to seek care contributed to the severity of your injuries.

How Can Medical Records Help My Claim?

When filing a personal injury claim against a negligent party, your medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence we gather. Not only can this help show the monetary damages you’ve suffered as a result of the injuries, but it can help establish proof and causation through a clear and objective timeline. Your medical records can link the injuries you’ve suffered to the accident and track your progress. As such, the sooner you can establish care following the accident, the better.

Navigating the aftermath of an accident can be incredibly overwhelming. However, ensuring you seek prompt medical care is critical to securing a smooth recovery and avoiding legal and insurance pitfalls. In addition, you should work with an experienced attorney with Ullian Trial Law to explore your legal options. Our team will examine your unique circumstances and tailor our approach to ensure the best possible result for you. Connect with us today to learn how we can assist you.