Car accidents are always on the horizon for every driver, no matter how careful one may be. One minute you can be cruising the highway at the recommended speed, and the next minute you are in a hospital ward surrounded by your family members. It is therefore essential to know your options, as well as your legal obligations in case you’re involved in a car accident.

So Why Should you Seek Medical Help Immediately After an Accident?

Not all road accidents result in fatal injuries. When you get away with a few cuts and bruises, you will probably be tempted to buy some painkillers instead of going all the way to the hospital. However, it is in your best interest to visit a doctor immediately after coming out of the accident. For one, if you don’t do so immediately and get a medical report, you will have a hard time proving that you actually got hurt during the accident. Secondly, the other driver’s insurance company will argue that you weren’t hurt much in the crash since you didn’t seek immediate medical assistance. In simple terms, delaying to see a doctor following an accident can result in significantly less compensation than you deserve, or even no compensation at all.

Collect All Medical Documentation Relating to The Crash

After consulting a doctor, be sure to get copies of all medical reports, tests, diagnoses, prescriptions, and invoices from your visit(s). These documents will help prove that you were actually injured during the crash, and that your injuries were as serious as you claim.

Advisably, inform the doctor how you got injured and let them see and examine your injuries. This will increase your chances of getting a fair outcome. Furthermore, do not seek help for other existing medical problems during your first hospital visit after the accident, unless they were exacerbated by the accident. Otherwise, only get treatment for injuries arising from the crash, to avoid having a confusing medical report that won’t help your case.

So, What if You Delay to See the Doctor?

Most victims of car accidents don’t seek immediate medical assistance, and decide to wait until the injuries “go away”. Others don’t even realize they were injured, which is often the case for internal injuries. Nonetheless, not visiting a doctor immediately after an accident is not the end of the world. At some point, you have to do what you think is right for your health, and finances, regardless of the impact on your potential suit.

All things considered, waiting for too long (e.g a couple of months) to seek treatment may impact your case. Primarily, it makes it difficult to show that the injuries were caused by the accident and even your doctor would have a hard time testifying about the same in court, especially if the other side has a good car accident lawyer. It may be unfortunate, but the burden of proof in personal injury claims is carried by the injured person(s).