Many people say that they were lucky to walk away from a car crash with just a few scratches. And they go on with their daily schedule without seeing a doctor. An experienced Valdosta car accident lawyer knows that this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
You should not ignore minor pain after a car accident. Here are some of the reasons why you should always see a doctor after a collision, even if you don’t think you’re hurt. Contact our law firm today for a free case review.
1. Shock Dulls Pain After a Car Accident
After a car crash, you are both mentally and physically numb. This is because your body secretes adrenaline, which blocks the pain – a natural response when we are in fight or flight mode. Thus, it may take hours before the numbness goes away and you start experiencing pain.
By then, you could have made your injuries worse by walking, carrying groceries, lifting up your kids in your arms, and any other everyday activities. In some cases, the injuries may leave you with a permanent disability.
2. Internal Injuries May Not Show Signs
Internal injuries are very dangerous. You may suffer injuries such as:
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to an important organ
- Spine injury
- Traumatic brain injury.
When you finally get to the hospital, you may be in critical condition and doctors will have to fight to save your life. And you may not make a full recovery. This unhappy outcome can be easily avoided if you ask for an ambulance at the crash scene or drive yourself to the nearest hospital.
3. Some Injuries Have Delayed Onset Symptoms
Depending on your health condition and your tolerance to pain, some car accident injuries may not show symptoms for days. They can be mild to average injuries, such as whiplash. But they can also be spine injuries involving crushed vertebrae or bulging discs.
The problem is that, unless you undergo diagnostic tests immediately after the accident, it will be difficult for your Valdosta car accident attorney to prove that you suffered the injuries in the crash. When the insurance adjuster sees the date of the initial medical report – days after the accident – they will say that you suffered the injuries in a separate accident.
4. The Insurance Adjuster Will Claim You Failed to Mitigate Your Damages
Even if your lawyer manages to prove that you suffered injuries as a direct result of the car accident, the other driver’s insurance company still has one more argument against your claim: failure to mitigate damages.
This legal principle means that an injured party should make reasonable efforts to limit the extent of their damages. This includes seeking medical care as soon as possible, in order to make sure that the injuries do not worsen.
This type of defense cannot be completely overruled. Thus, you may not recover the maximum settlement amount you could have obtained had you sought medical attention immediately after the accident.
5. You May Receive Full Compensation
If you are not happy with the results of your lawyer’s negotiations, you may sue the at-fault driver and their insurance company has to defend them. Your decision not to seek medical care right away will be a prominent part of their defense.
They will cast doubt on the moment and cause of your injuries. You will be presented as someone who wants to defraud the auto insurance system by seeking damages for injuries that were not their client’s fault.
Thus, it will be up to the jury to decide whose story they believe. And if they do not believe you, then you will have to bear all legal costs, on top of the damages that you have already incurred.
Get Medical Care and Call a Valdosta Car Accident Lawyer!
After a car accident, your health and safety are of paramount importance. Remember that, as long as you were less than half at fault for the crash, you have the right to get compensation for economic and non-economic damages from the other driver.
So, do not think about hospital bills, but about getting the necessary treatment for your injuries. And when your doctors say that you are out of danger, reach out to an experienced Valdosta car accident lawyer at Joe Durham Jr., P.C. to start your claim process.
You will enjoy a free case review as a new client, so call us at 229-210-6226!
