When you are involved in an accident, whether you slip and fall in a supermarket or are t-boned by a texting driver, you may be relieved that you feel okay in the immediate aftermath. However, as time progresses, you may begin to notice symptoms of an injury stemming from the incident. Unfortunately, delayed medical care doesn’t just impact how quickly you are treated – it can hurt your injury claim. As such, the following blog explores why seeking immediate medical attention is critical and how seeing a doctor shortly after the accident can help your claim. In addition, you’ll learn the importance of working with a Contra Costa County personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the complexities of a personal injury claim.
What Injuries May Take Time to Develop or Show Symptoms?
While many assume that they will be in immediate pain or discomfort following an accident, this is not always the case. In fact, many injuries can take time to appear or show symptoms. In some instances, this could be due to the adrenaline in your body masking the pain. When you are involved in an accident, your body’s natural instinct is to protect itself, meaning it can send adrenaline through your veins to help you escape the perceived threat. As such, you may begin to feel pain when the adrenaline wears off.
In other instances, your body’s natural inflammatory response can result in the delay of pain and symptoms, especially for injuries like soft tissue damage or brain injuries like concussions.
As such, injuries that may develop over time include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Sprains and strains
- Whiplash
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal injuries
- Slipped discs
- Emotional damages
What Impact Can Delayed Medical Care Have on My Claim?
If you delay your medical care, meaning you do not let the emergency medical technicians assess you at the scene of the accident or schedule an appointment with your primary care physician in the days following the incident, this can have a considerable impact on any future injury claims you wish to raise.
When you delay medical care, it, unfortunately, opens the door for the negligent party and their insurance company to pin responsibility for your injuries on you. They may claim that because you delayed medical care, you failed to mitigate damages. This can drastically reduce the compensation you can recover. In other instances, they may even claim that because you did not seek medical care in the immediate aftermath of the accident, the injuries you have suffered are not as bad as you claim.
Going to the doctor is imperative, not only for your health and well-being, but also to aid in your legal claim. Establishing medical care as soon as possible after the accident can help show that you took the necessary steps to prevent the injury from worsening. In addition, continued care shows the progression of the injury, including the limitations you face at each stage. This is critical to recovering the compensation you deserve.
When you sustain an injury as a result of another person’s negligent actions, it can result in a number of serious issues. That is why it’s imperative to fight for the compensation you deserve with the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney. At O’Connor Law, our firm understands how overwhelming these matters can be to navigate, which is why we will do everything in our power to help you through these overwhelming times. When you need help, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
