Accident victims often feel confused, frustrated, and anxious after suffering car accident injuries. However, the majority of accident victims need to go to the hospital after being involved in a car accident. Ideally, you should go to the hospital from the accident scene so you can be assessed, diagnosed, and treated immediately.
It is possible that you suffered injuries that will not produce any discernible symptoms.
Sometimes accident victims only experience minor injuries that seem not to warrant a trip to the hospital. However, you may have suffered car accident injuries that will not produce symptoms until weeks or months after the date of the incident. You need to go to the hospital so you can be assessed by a physician. It is possible that you suffered injuries that will not produce any discernible symptoms – such as internal injuries – right away.
The Cost of Emergency Room Care
If you do not want to go to the emergency room, you can visit an urgent care center. These healthcare providers are generally less expensive than hospitals and emergency rooms. You can receive medical records and proof of your injuries from both hospitals and urgent care centers.
Some physicians treat injured victims on medical liens. This means that the car accident victim does not pay any costs to the physician upfront. The physician or medical entity has a lien on the proceeds of your case. After your car accident claims are resolved, the medical providers are paid out of the settlement proceeds or verdict. These options enable accident victims to receive medical treatment without going into debt paying for their medical bills. Speaking to our experienced Houston car accident attorneys can help you learn more about the options for medical treatment that are available to you.
Getting the Correct Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Not seeking medical treatment may also complicate your diagnosis and your treatment plan. For example, you may need to undergo surgery to treat your injuries. But if you delay seeking medical treatment, then a physician may have more difficulty diagnosing your injuries and determining which surgical procedures you need to undergo.
Oftentimes, you will need to visit medical specialists to receive the appropriate treatment for your injuries. You may need to see a neurologist, for example. If you develop different symptoms after you begin your treatment, your physician will have medical records to consult so you can receive the correct diagnosis. Many accident victims suffer different types of injuries, including severe burns, spinal cord injuries, and fractured bones.
What Are the Potential Legal and Financial Consequences of Not Going to the Hospital After a Car Accident?
You may believe that seeking emergency room care is too expensive. However, you may end up saving money by going to the emergency room or urgent care center immediately after being involved in an automobile accident. If you prevail in your personal injury case, you can seek financial compensation for your injuries and the medical treatment that you received. But you must be able to substantiate the injuries you suffered and the medical care that helped you recover. Medical bills, medical reports, and medical records are all relevant to your car accident case.
If you pursue financial compensation for your injuries, then you will have to deal with insurance companies. These entities are interested in preserving as much profit as possible, so they will offer you low settlement amounts at the beginning of your car accident case. If you do not seek medical treatment at a hospital immediately after the car accident, then it is probable that the insurance company will claim that the wreck was not the cause of your injuries.
The longer the time period is between the date of the incident and your initial medical treatment, the more likely it is that the insurance company will dispute your injuries. Insurance companies are adept at delaying and denying car accident claims.
You may feel too overwhelmed to make a start toward seeking medical treatment for your injuries. However, there are many reasons you should get a lawyer after a car accident. We have years of experience getting successful car accident case results. We can help you seek financial compensation for your injuries. Our skilled and experienced Houston car accident lawyers offer exceptional legal representation. Do not be afraid to stand up to the insurance companies and enforce your legal rights.
