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After a car accident, you should seek medical attention right away. In some cases, car accidents are so severe that medical transportation to hospitals is required for victims at the scene of the crash. If you have not seen a medical professional after an auto accident and are wondering how long you have to go to the hospital after a car accident, consider going as soon as possible.
When accidents are less severe, you may feel you do not need to seek treatment from a hospital. However, even minor accidents may warrant a medical examination from your family doctor. This is especially true if you plan on filing an insurance claim to earn a financial settlement for your accident.
Know that some injuries may be unnoticeable at first. For instance, you may experience a concussion from a car accident and not realize this until it has been diagnosed by a doctor.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that concussions may be diagnosed as a “mild” brain injury, but these conditions can lead to brain cell damage. CDC also explains that concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In 2014, motor vehicle accidents accounted for 20% of all TBI-related hospitalization in America, according to the CDC.
Another injury to watch out for from a car accident is neck pain. As explained by Mayo Clinic, neck pain after a car accident may be a sign of a whiplash injury, which is a common injury that is associated with rear-end collisions.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Car Accident
If you plan on filing an insurance claim after a car accident, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. By showing the insurance adjuster that you sought medical treatment after an accident, your claim may be strengthened. Medical evidence may link your injuries to the accident.
Some injuries may not appear right away after an accident, such as a concussion or whiplash. The more time that passes after an auto accident, the harder it will be to prove that your injuries were linked to the car accident. If you wait too long to visit a hospital or a healthcare provider, the insurance adjuster may assume your injuries were caused by something else and not the car accident.
An insurance adjuster may also consider if negligence was involved in causing the accident. Negligence is “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances.”
If evidence suggests the opposing driver was negligent, they can be held liable for the accident. So, they would also have to compensate victims for their damages.
Severe Accidents Necessitate Hospital Visits
While minor car accidents might not always warrant a hospital visit or even an in-depth insurance claim, severe accidents typically will. Some accidents that may result in immediate medical transportation include rollover accidents, head-on collisions, truck accidents, and more.
Other types of car accidents that will likely require quick medical attention include, but are not limited to:
- Rear end car wreck
- Intersection accidents
- Bus accidents
- T-bone wreck
- Dangerous roadways
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Even if your accident did not require you to be transported immediately to a hospital via ambulance, you should still seek an exam or treatment from your doctor soon afterward. If you are unsure whether you sustained an injury, you should still visit a doctor.
Once you have received medical attention after a car accident, you must report the accident to your insurance company. During this step, it is critical that you do not admit fault. In some cases, insurance companies may try and persuade you to admit complete or a partial fault for the incident. By admitting to any level of fault, your insurance settlement award will be impacted.
From here, you must file the claim with the insurance company in order to begin pursuing damages. This should be done as soon as possible, especially if you sustained injuries. If the insurance company contacts you, avoid giving a statement. These phone calls may be recorded, and they may attempt to pin the crash on you.
Begin Your Free Case Review With George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers
Remember that your potential insurance settlement hangs in the balance. We can help you wade through the process of filing a car accident claim. Our firm will handle all communications with your insurance company. Your lawyer will pursue fair compensation on your behalf, as well.
Additionally, George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers will help you obtain evidence to prove your claim and answer any questions about how long you have to go to the hospital after a car accident. To learn more, call us today or fill out our online form to begin a free case review.