Yes, you should see a doctor after a car accident. Whether you have been involved in a car wreck, an on-the-job incident, or another type of accident, it is always important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your health should be your first and foremost concern.
In fact, Georgia law requires injured parties to “mitigate their damages,” which means doing everything possible to recover from your injuries.
Once you’ve been treated, you’ll want to hire a Marietta car accident lawyer to help you seek damages.
Until then, let’s take a closer look at the importance of seeing a doctor right away after a crash.
Seeing a Doctor After a Car Accident Helps Identify Unnoticed Injuries
Car accident victims are often severely injured and require urgent attention at a hospital or emergency medical facility. However, in other instances, people don’t immediately feel the onset of pain and other symptoms of a significant injury.
Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and concussions have symptoms that often don’t appear for hours or even days after an accident. Only a qualified physician is able to provide the diagnosis and treatment you deserve, as well as help determine if you have injuries that are not immediately apparent.
Seeing a doctor after a car accident will help you identify injuries you might not have noticed and allow you to get treatment and safeguard your health. If you’ve been in a collision, you should seek professional medical care from a qualified physician, such as:
- Your primary care doctor
- An emergency room physician
- An orthopedic doctor
A qualified healthcare provider will make sure you get the care and treatment you deserve for your auto accident injuries. Physicians prescribe treatment procedures, such as medication and physical therapy. This treatment will help you recover from your injuries so that you can get back to your normal way of life.
Seeing a Doctor will Provide Evidence to Support Your Case
You should see a doctor after a car accident because it will generate evidence that we will use to strengthen your claim. To get the compensatory damages you deserve, you must prove that you’ve suffered injuries and that your injuries were caused by the accident.
It is also important not to miss follow-up doctor’s appointments that you have scheduled. Failure to appear at appointments hurts potential injury claims, as it could be argued that your injuries are not significant enough to seek treatment.
In addition, if you wait to see a doctor, insurance companies will often claim that your injuries did not result from the accident. Furthermore, listen to your doctor’s instructions. This is not a time to take matters into your own hands, as it could be destructive to your case later on.
Seeing a Doctor is Worth it, Even if the Cost Seems High
Some accident victims are unsure whether they should see a doctor after a car accident because they are worried about the potentially high cost of treatment. This should not be used as an excuse to forego medical treatment.
An experienced attorney will connect you with a doctor who will see you on a lien basis. While you are getting the treatment you deserve to get back on your feet, your lawyer will determine who should cover your bills and other losses. Then, they’ll fight for the damages you’re owed.
Your medical bills might be paid by a variety of sources, including:
- Your health insurance
- The medical payments insurance coverage from your car insurance provider
- The at-fault party’s auto insurance
- Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance (if injured on the job)
- Other potential sources
How an Attorney will Help You After a Car Accident
A knowledgeable attorney will always tell you that you should see a doctor after a car accident. A lawyer also takes many steps on your behalf to get the damages you deserve. Here’s what a dedicated car accident lawyer will do to file a winning claim for you:
- Connect you with a medical provider who will work on a lien basis
- Investigate your accident
- Gather police reports, witness testimonies, accident reconstructionist statements, footage of the crash, and other forms of evidence
- Analyze evidence and use it to build a strong claim
- Negotiate a settlement with the insurance provider
- Take further legal action, if necessary
- Provide sound legal advice and compassionate counsel throughout your case
As you can see, there’s a lot that a lawyer does to get a favorable outcome after a car crash. By hiring a skilled attorney, you’ll dramatically increase your chances of receiving a fair settlement. Once you’ve seen a doctor for your car accident injuries, don’t wait to schedule a free consultation with an attorney and get started on your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Car Accident Lawyer
Now that you know you should see a doctor after a car accident, it’s time to get the medical care and legal support you deserve to move forward with your life. At Jones & Swanson, we have guided hundreds of clients through the claims process, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
With more than 45 years of legal experience, our Marietta attorneys will provide diligent representation to help you recover the financial settlement you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and take the first step toward getting the money you deserve.
