After being involved in a motor vehicle accident, one of the first things you should do is visit your doctor or take a trip to the hospital, even if you happen to feel fine in the immediate aftermath. The fact is that most injuries do not produce symptoms right away and, without proper medical treatment, a major health problem could be brewing without your knowledge. In addition to posing a danger to your health, not seeing a doctor right away could harm your chances of obtaining compensation in a personal injury case. An insurance adjuster will likely argue that, since you did not seek medical attention after the accident, you are probably exaggerating your symptoms now or were injured on another occasion, unrelated to the accident.
Do not jeopardize your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve. Below are some additional reasons why it is crucial to see a doctor after an accident:
- Crash injuries are not always obvious: Enduring an accident often results in a flood of fight-or-flight chemicals that can mask the pain of an injury and its symptoms. Additionally, many injuries take time for symptoms to manifest. Injuries that are commonly associated with delayed symptoms include whiplash, concussions, and back injuries. Regardless if you feel pain or not, visiting a doctor is vital to your health, especially since many of these injuries only worsen over time.
- Delaying treatment hurts your insurance claim: When an insurance company notices a gap in time between the accident and your medical treatment, this raises a red flag for them. An adjuster will try to use this delay against you and argue that you are exaggerating the extent of your injuries. Instead of giving them the ammunition they are looking for, protect yourself and your accident claim by making a visit to your doctor a top priority.
- Skipping treatment will not save you money: One of the biggest reasons why people delay seeking medical treatment is out of concern for the cost. They often wait to see if the other driver’s insurance will accept fault for the accident and ultimately cover the costs of any medical bills. Unfortunately, this is not how the process works. While you are in the process of pursuing your claim, you will need to get treatment using your own health insurance and, once you are recovered, or completed treatment, you can send your medical bills to the at-fault driver’s insurance company to request reimbursement.
Personal Injury Attorney in Las Vegas
If you recently sustained injuries in an accident, you need a skilled and experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney on your side to fight for the compensation you deserve and need during this difficult time. At Shook & Stone, our team of attorneys has over 85 years of combined legal experience and superior knowledge to help victims and their families put their lives together.
Contact our office today at (702) 385-2220 to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable member of our firm.
