When you are involved in a car accident, the first thing you want to do is make sure everyone is OK and that there are no serious injuries. Getting prompt medical attention for the injured must be the first priority of everyone involved, no matter what the nature of the accident.
Even if you are involved in a crash and do not appear to have any injuries, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can. That is because many injuries, from minor strains and muscle aches to major problems like whiplash and head injuries, may not be apparent right away. Seeing a medical professional promptly is the only way to be sure that you are really not injured.
Seeing a doctor right away also helps to protect your rights down the line. The problem with injuries from car crashes is that they are not always evident right away. In many cases, it could take days, or even weeks, for those injuries to make themselves known. If you wait too long, the connection between the car accident and your medical problems could be difficult to prove, even with the help of a good personal injury attorney..
You serve two related and equally important purposes when you have a post-accident medical exam. For one thing, that post-crash medical exam helps to determine if you sustained any injuries in the crash. Since the type of soft tissue injuries that often result from car crashes can be subtle, it takes a medical professional to determine whether that type of injury is present.
The second benefit of that post-crash medical exam is to protect your rights in the event that you are found to have an injury related to the accident. Going to the doctor as soon as possible establishes that you were injured, and helps you prove those injuries if you do need to go to court.
If you fail to get medical attention right away, the attorney or insurance company representing the other driver may try to say that the injuries you sustained were pre-existing and not a result of the accident. Without a report from a medical professional to back you up, it can be extremely difficult to prove that your injuries were in fact a result of the car accident and the fault of the other driver.
Protecting your rights is vital when you are involved in a car accident, even if the damage to your car is minor and you feel you have not sustained any injuries. If you fail to take the proper steps, including getting prompt medical attention, you could be giving up important rights, including the right to be reimbursed for your medical care.