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The aftermath of a motor vehicle accident can be confusing, especially if you are injured. It can be difficult to assess the severity of your injuries right away when in pain. The next steps you take are important, as your response to your injuries could impact your future health and prospective personal injury lawsuit.
Unsure of what to do if you’re in pain after a car crash? You do not have to figure it out on your own. The right team of doctors and attorneys could help you see to your medical needs and hold the driver that caused your accident responsible.
Seek Medical Treatment and Follow the Doctor’s Orders
You should get medical care as soon as possible after a crash. If you are in pain after an accident, it is in your best interest to put your care in the hands of a doctor. A doctor could advise you on the extent of your injuries and put you on a path toward recovery.
It is not enough to see a doctor once and then go on with your life as if nothing happened. Your recovery requires compliance with the treatment plan the doctor has laid out. Following your treatment plan improves your physical condition and strengthens the outlook for your personal injury case.
You must mitigate the damages in your personal injury case. That involves preventing your injuries from worsening needlessly. If you do not mitigate your damages, the insurance company could use that against you when you try to settle your claim.
Don’t Assume Your Injuries Are Minor
Your injuries could be more severe than you realize. In the moments following your accident, the adrenaline coursing through your system could mask your pain. According to Mayo Clinic, certain conditions like traumatic brain injuries might not develop symptoms for days or weeks after the accident. For that reason, do not assume your injuries are minor.
Even if you feel like you are relatively unhurt, seeking medical treatment for any pain is helpful. Seeing a doctor right away could get you on the path to full health sooner and prevent your injuries from worsening.
Don’t Accept a Settlement Offer From the Insurance Company Right Away
You might be surprised to find the at-fault driver’s insurer offers a settlement for your injuries right away. However, accepting this offer immediately—especially without first speaking to an attorney—is a mistake.
Insurance companies aggressively push settlement offers early in the process because they hope you will resolve your case for less than it is worth.
Settling your case too early is risky. It can take time to understand the extent of your injuries and the need for future medical treatment. If you settle your case before your future medical needs are clear, you could accept an inadequate settlement.
You only get one chance to settle your injury case. Once you have accepted a settlement, you lose your right to ever pursue that injury claim again. If your settlement does not cover your future medical needs, you will likely pay for that treatment out of pocket.
Gather Evidence That You Already Have
You should keep all your medical care receipts, photos, and notes about how the accident occured. Keeping an updated pain journal detailing your recovery can also prove helpful. Any contact information for the other involved parties should also go in the file you keep your accident-related information.
You can submit these documents to the insurance company as evidence of the accident and how it has affected you. Write about how your injuries have affected your ability to live like before the accident and provide pay stubs if the accident affected your income.
Any Delay in Seeking Legal Help Could Work Against You
Any delay will only work against you. Delaying medical treatment could put your physical health at risk, and putting off a discussion with your personal injury lawyer could make recovering fair compensation for your injuries more difficult.
Reach Out to an Injury Attorney Right Away
One of the most impactful decisions you can make if you are in pain after a car crash is seeking the guidance of an attorney. Your attorney could advise you on your options and help you take the steps needed to seek a monetary award for your pain and suffering.
The George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers team is ready to help you deal with your pain-related injury case. To learn more about how we could help, call (888) 612-7001 for your free consultation.