The Importance of Seeing a Doctor After an Accident
It may surprise you how many people do not visit the doctor’s office after a car accident. After an accident, you may experience a lot of shock. The adrenaline will rush through your body and you may not be able to tell that you are in pain. In addition, many people believe that if the pain is not intense, then it may fade. They mistakenly believe that their injuries are not that severe. If you delay seeing a doctor, however, you may wind up in a messier situation — particularly if the injuries are worse than you thought.
Delayed Symptoms
Some symptoms do not manifest directly after an accident. It may take a few days to feel the extent of your injuries. Likewise, if you have injuries that you do not seek treatment for or are unaware of, then you could wind up making those injuries worsen over time. In some patients, the pain won’t manifest badly for a couple of weeks. If you feel pain, do not assume that it is going to go away fast. Instead, you should visit your doctor right away.
Claim Risks
If the other driver was at fault for your accident and you suffer extensive or lasting injuries, you may have a problem filing a claim if you do not see your doctor right away. Your doctor needs to document your injuries and your progress every step of the way. If you do not see a doctor, then the other driver’s insurance company can poke holes in your claim. For instance, if you did not see a doctor within the first few days, the company may claim that you were not injured as a result of the accident. To prove fault can sometimes be difficult and you do not want to add complexity to your case by never seeing a doctor.
If you were recently in an accident, you do not want to forego seeing a doctor. Even if you feel as though you are okay, it can’t hurt to have a doctor take a look at your possible injuries. Most symptoms after an accident will not subside right away. If you have any aches or pains, you need to be sure that these pains are not due to a more serious problem. If left unchecked, injuries only get worse. If you’ve been to a doctor and think that you have an accident claim, then you need to contact a car accident lawyer, like a car accident lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, as soon as possible for a consultation.
Thanks to Hickey & Turim Attorneys at Law for their insight into the importance of seeing a doctor after being involved in a car accident.