A car accident is a terrifying experience that can cause serious injuries for the victims involved. In Ohio, there were 269,079 reported crashes throughout the state in 2013. Of those, there were 100,148 non-fatal injuries sustained by drivers and passengers.
If you’ve been in a car accident, one of the first things that you need to do immediately following the accident is to see a doctor.
By seeking medical attention, you can receive any care you need, discover any injuries of which you’re not aware, and you may even improve your chances of recovering damages through a personal injury claim. Below are some reasons to make a doctor visit after an accident.
Seek Medical Care after a Car Accident to Ensure Your Health
First and foremost, the most important reason to see a doctor after an accident is to make sure your health is okay. While you may feel okay following an accident, some injuries following an accident are hard to detect, and may not be noticeable at first. A concussion, for example, can have delayed symptoms and it’s important to receive care as soon as possible.
Other types of injuries, such as soft tissue injuries like whiplash, can also be hard to detect immediately following an accident. However, a doctor is the best judge when it comes to determining any injuries you might have suffered. Even if you feel fine following an accident, seeking medical attention for an evaluation is within your best interest.
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A Doctor Visit after an Accident can Preserve Your Rights to Insurance Payments
In addition to making sure that your health is okay and that you don’t have any severe injuries that require more intensive medical treatment, seeking medical treatment immediately may also affect your car insurance claim. Unfortunately, if you fail to seek medical care, your insurance adjuster may argue that because you did not immediately get medical help, your injuries are not serious enough to warrant compensation or your injuries are not as severe as you’re claiming.
What’s more, if you do not see a doctor after an accident, your insurance adjuster may argue that your injuries were caused by a non-related accident. For example, if you wait one month to get treated for a back injury, the insurance adjuster may believe that the back injury was not caused by the car accident, but by something else entirely. This can hurt your chances of receiving a fair payout amount from your insurance adjuster.
Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment after an Accident to Recover Compensation
The sooner that you seek medical care, the sooner you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Typically, compensation will not be awarded until documented medical proof is provided to insurance adjusters to prove your injuries and their extent. As such, if you want to receive compensation for your medical bills and future medical costs, see a doctor following your car accident as soon as possible.
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Seek Legal Help after an Accident
Consult an attorney who can help you recover a fair amount of compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. In Ohio, the statute of limitations for pursuing a personal injury claim is two years from the date of injury, according to Ohio Laws and Rules statute 2305.10. If you fail to file a claim within this time frame, you may forfeit your right to damages.
At Bressman Law, our attorneys know how frustrating it can be when an insurance company denies you the benefits to which you’re entitled. To speak with one of our attorneys today, call us now at (614) 538-1116 or use the form on our contact page.
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