Sometimes, the effects of a car accident are immediately apparent, and you may suffer from visible injuries, acute pain, and noticeable effects on your physical and mental abilities that you know require immediate medical care. However, other cases are not as clear cut. You may question whether medical treatment is necessary for minor cuts, bruises, or aches after a car accident, but you should know that it is in your best interests to get medical attention as soon as possible, regardless of how severe your injuries may seem.
Reasons to Seek Medical Care
A medical examination after a car accident can be important for a variety of reasons, including to address concerns about your personal health and to improve your chances of success in a possible personal injury claim. Some of the main reasons to receive medical attention include:
- Untreated injuries can worsen over time. Some car accident injuries, such as concussions, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, and damage to internal organs, may manifest as relatively minor pains at first, but they can lead to more serious complications if you do not get treatment. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible helps you make timely decisions regarding your well-being.
- Prompt medical attention connects your injuries to the accident. If you receive medical treatment immediately after your accident, there will be little doubt that the crash was the cause of your injuries. The longer you wait to seek care, the more that doubt can creep in. This may weaken your claims for compensation from insurance providers or the at-fault party in a personal injury lawsuit.
- Your medical records can serve as evidence for full compensation. When you seek medical treatment, health professionals keep records of your diagnoses and care, and this often includes visual evidence of your injuries. This evidence can bolster your claim for compensation in a personal injury lawsuit by demonstrating the severity of your injuries and the extent of the treatment you have received.
Along with pursuing medical care, you should also hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Your lawyer can not only help you preserve the medical evidence you will need for your claim, but they can also help you collect evidence of another driver’s negligence, including camera footage, police records, and witness testimonies.
Contact a Green Bay, WI Car Accident Attorney
The attorneys at [[title]] know what it takes to succeed in a personal injury case, and we want you to have the best chances possible of getting the compensation you need and achieving a full recovery from your injuries. If you have questions about your case, contact an experienced Appleton personal injury lawyer today at 920-739-7366 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20378921
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924661/