WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO SEE A DOCTOR AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
Traffic collisions on Pennsylvania roadways often result in minor to serious bodily injuries. We know that there can be severe consequences. Depending on the incident, some accident victims are hospitalized or unable to work. Whether you sustained minor, severe, or no injuries, it’s important that you get proper medical care for your health and safety. Beyond that, having proper documentation and getting medical care can help for insurance claim purposes. An experienced Pennsylvania personal injury attorney can enlighten you about the benefits of seeing a doctor after a car accident.
At Goldberg, Goldberg & Maloney, we are poised and ready to represent car accident victims in their injury claims. We help gather the necessary documentation and file insurance claims on your behalf. Also, our trusted attorneys will fight vigorously to protect your legal rights and help pursue your deserved financial compensation. Our firm is proud to serve clients across West Chester, Pennsylvania, and surrounding communities.
COMMON INJURIES
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
When a traffic crash occurs, the driver, passengers, or other road users involved in the accident may suffer minor or severe injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries after a car accident:
Back or neck injuries
Arm and leg injuries
Concussions
Chest injuries
Bruising
Knee trauma
Whiplash
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Broken ribs
Traumatic brain injuries
Internal bleeding
Head injuries
Herniated discs
Scrapes and cuts
Soft tissue injuries
Fractures – broken arms, shoulders, legs, and hips
When involved in an auto accident, you should be more concerned about your safety, health, and general wellbeing. Hence, even if you believe that you feel fine, you should still seek immediate medical help.
REASONS TO SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION
A car accident may result in bodily injuries, trauma, or even change your life's trajectory. But sometimes, the issues don’t immediately show. No matter how you feel right after the accident, you should still see a doctor. Some people fail to get proper medical care because they think they didn't sustain any injury – or only mild injuries. But it’s important to go for several reasons, including:
FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH AND SAFETY
After an auto accident, your overall health, safety, and wellbeing must be your priority. Even if you think your injuries are minimal, you should still seek medical attention. Occasionally, injuries and symptoms may not become noticeable immediately. They may take several days or weeks before they fully manifest. The earlier you get medical help, the quicker you might start recovering.
FOR PROPER DOCUMENTATION
OF YOUR INJURIES
Additionally, you need to see a doctor for proper documentation of your injuries. Doctor's appointments, medical history, and other records can indicate the extent of your injuries, the medical procedures, and treatments received. This information will be a vital aspect of the documentation when filing your insurance claims.
TO COMPLY WITH INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
It’s important for an accident victim to seek medical treatment within a certain time frame. This is because insurance companies in Pennsylvania have policies stating the time for which accident victims should get medical treatment to qualify for financial compensation. Therefore, if you don’t see a qualified physician after the auto accident, you're failing to act in accordance with insurance requirements. This is among the reasons for insurance claims denial.
AVOID POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH THE INSURER
In addition, policyholders are required to notify the insurer when involved in a traffic crash as soon as possible. Upon filing your injury claim, the insurance carrier may use your decision to delay or skip seeking medical help as evidence that your injuries were blown up, you weren't actually injured, or the injuries were sustained from a different incident. Hence, the insurer may undervalue or deny your claim.
FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH
THE TREATMENT PLAN
However, while seeking medical help following the car accident, you should also adhere to your treatment plan. Essentially, following any individualized treatment plan – physical therapy, regular checkups, or prescription medication – recommended by the doctor will help you recover quicker. This may also assist with your injury claim.
For instance, if you skipped your physical therapy sessions or missed your doctor's appointment, the insurance company may argue that you missed them because your injuries aren't really serious. Therefore, the insurer may refuse to cover treatment or therapy costs.
Additionally, the insurance provider may argue that your health condition deteriorated due to your negligence or failure to follow through with the treatment plan. Unfortunately, the insurance carrier may use this as a reason to deny or undervalue your personal injury claim.
LEGAL GUIDANCE YOU CAN TRUST
Getting injured in a negligent car accident can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. Notwithstanding the nature and severity of your injuries, seeking medical help is crucial for your health, wellbeing, and safety, for proper documentation, and to comply with insurance requirements. A skilled personal injury attorney can enlighten you about your legal options to seek damages and help pursue fair financial compensation for your injuries.
At Goldberg, Goldberg & Maloney, we have the expertise, diligence, and resources to guide injured victims through the complexities of car accident claims. Our skilled attorneys will review and investigate all of the surrounding facts of your personal situation thoroughly, gather relevant information and documentation, and help file your personal injury claims. As your legal counsel, we will advocate for your best interests and help you pursue the financial justice you're entitled to.
Never delay seeing a doctor after a car accident. Contact Goldberg, Goldberg & Maloney today to schedule a simple case assessment with trusted car accident lawyers. Our reliable legal team can offer you the vigorous representation and personalized guidance you deserve in your injury claims. We're proud to serve clients across West Chester, Pennsylvania, and surrounding communities.