The Importance of Receiving Medical Treatment Immediately After An Accident

For anyone who has been injured in an accident, it is common to be in a state of shock immediately following the accident. Accidents that cause injuries such as car accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, nursing home injuries, medical malpractice, or any other accident that occurs due to someone else’s negligence can seem terrifying and overwhelming. Even if you donot feel seriously injured after the accident, it is essential that you seek medical treatment immediately, as some injuries need to be evaluated and treated by a medical professional.

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Typical Human Response to Accident-Related Injuries

An accident-related injury can, at first, seem minor. One reason for this is because the body releases epinephrine, or adrenaline, at the time of sudden fright or trauma. This is called the “fight or flight” response, and the body responds this way when it senses danger. These chemicals linger, long after the accident is over. Though a helpful natural response, another result of the epinephrine is that it may dull the senses to understand or interpret pain for a period of time, or even interfere with the brain’s ability to process pain correctly. This is why an injury victim might not sense the full impact of an injury until time has passed and the body chemicals have dissipated. This scenario is not unusual after accidents such as traumatic falls, vehicle accidents, dog bites, serious work-related injuries, and other serious accidents involving injuries.

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The Importance of Immediate Medical Evaluation and Treatment

For several reasons, it is imperative that an accident victim receives medical evaluation treatment immediately after their accident. Any delay in medical diagnosis or treatment could jeopardize a person’s health, and even result in a fatality. Although minor wounds such as cuts, bruises, and scrapes may heal on their own, severe injuries including fractures, neck injuries, internal organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, aortic dissections, spinal cord injuries, and burns require medical assessment immediately following a catastrophic accident. Any small delay in diagnosis or treatment could cause a victim to suffer:

● A longer recovery period

● A higher chance of re-injury

● Worsening of the injury

● Death

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Visiting Your Healthcare Provider or Medical Professional

After experiencing any kind of accident, visit your healthcare provider or a medical professional as soon as possible. Make sure to mention all of your injuries, even those that appear minor, to make sure that everything has been well-documented by the medical provider. This is critical if you make the decision later to pursue a personal injury claim against the negligent party. If you fail to seek medical attention immediately following your accident, the insurance company for the negligent party may attempt to argue that your injuries were not serious, or you would have sought medical help immediately. A future claim will be stronger if you visit a doctor immediately after the accident, and certainly within the first 72 hours. However, if you are reading this and have yet to seek medical attention, you still have the ability to file for a personal injury claim regarding someone else’s negligence. Contact our experienced attorneys to help you with your case, and make an appointment for a visit with your healthcare provider or visit an urgent care or emergency room to receive a medical evaluation.

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Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider or Medical Professional

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In many situations, injuries that stem from accidents take hours or even days to surface. Conditions like whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage or bleeding, concussions, fractures and other soft-tissue injuries take time to fully emerge. When you visit your healthcare provider or seek medical evaluation, make sure to ask the following questions to help you understand the severity of your injuries and how you will be able to hopefully return to normal life as quickly as possible following your recovery. Some questions to consider asking your medical professional include the following:

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● What injuries did I receive from the accident?

● Do I need any diagnostic tests?

● What is the course of action at this point to treat my medical condition?

● How long should I continue to receive medical treatment?

● Will I need ongoing medical treatments, medications, or rehabilitative or physical

therapy?

● When can I return to work?

● When can I resume normal activities?

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Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

It is extremely important to note that a victim of an accident never settle with an insurance company until all medical treatments are totally complete, and health has been fully restored. Insurance companies intentionally offer low settlement amounts initially, and negotiations between both sides can be stressful and intense. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible following any kind of accident to help advise you on the best course of action, and to help you receive the maximum possible amount to compensate you for your injuries and losses. If you were injured in an accident due to the negligence of someone else, contact an experienced attorney at Sandoval Law, APC. We can help you through the process, help you get the medical treatment you need, help you negotiate with insurance companies and help you get the compensation you deserve.

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