If you were involved in a collision but felt good enough to walk away from the scene, you might not think it’s necessary to schedule a doctor’s appointment. Between taking in your car for repairs and securing alternative transportation, you may already feel overwhelmed by everything on your plate. Adding a visit to the doctor may seem like an unnecessary burden.
However, your health should always be your number one priority. Delaying a diagnosis or skipping this step entirely could have major ramifications for both your well-being and the success of your personal injury claim. Let us look at a few reasons why you should always visit the doctor after a collision:
Your Condition Could Worsen without Treatment
Even though you may feel like you have survived an auto accident unscathed, this does not mean you’re not injured. Injuries such as internal bleeding, whiplash, and even brain trauma might take days or even weeks to manifest symptoms. They could also—at least initially—present with minor symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
Undergoing a comprehensive medical assessment immediately after an accident will ensure you receive prompt treatment for your injuries. This may also help prevent additional health complications.
Further, seeking treatment is about more than just taking care of your health. During proceedings, a prompt diagnosis will demonstrate that you took your recovery seriously, potentially helping eliminate disputes over the failure to mitigate damages.
Prompt Treatment Can Help Tie Your Injuries to the Wreck
With days or weeks between the day of the collision and the date of your medical assessment, you’ll leave considerable room for opposing parties to assert that you suffered your injuries in a different incident. Reducing that window to just a few hours by seeking immediate treatment will create a strong paper trail connecting your condition to the incident in question.
Your Medical Records Will Help You Prove Your Damages
To obtain compensation for your medical costs and other injury-related losses, you will almost always need access to up-to-date medical records to demonstrate the damage you incurred. Without these records, it is unlikely that you will receive a financial award.
Additionally, you should consider starting a personal injury journal to log daily entries describing how your injuries have affected your quality of life. These entries can help provide context for your medical records and build a case for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Texas Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone close to you was seriously injured in a collision, it may be in your best interests to discuss your case with a Texas car accident attorney. At Hilliard Law, we understand the considerable toll an accident can take on a victim’s life physically, emotionally, and financially.
Throughout the duration of your matter, our legal team will work to help alleviate stress during the challenging days ahead, while pursuing the best resolution for your case. To schedule a free consultation, reach out to us at (361) 882-1612 or through our contact page HERE.