If you are involved in a car accident, you might feel confused or overwhelmed. The stress might even cause a surge of physical excitement because after a traumatic event, the body naturally produces adrenaline to help process what has happened. This adrenaline surge can mask symptoms of pain that you might otherwise experience until you’re able to calm down. In the midst of all this chaos, you might wonder, “Should I go to the hospital after a car accident? The short answer is yes. To learn more, please scroll down.
Should I Go to the Hospital After a Car Accident?
Should I go to the hospital after a car accident? Absolutely. There are many types of injuries that may not show symptoms for hours or even days after a car accident. For example, whiplash commonly does not show symptoms immediately following an accident. Other injuries that you might not notice right after your accident include internal bleeding, herniated discs, and mild traumatic brain injuries, amongst others. If these injuries are not promptly diagnosed and treated, they may worsen and make your recovery more difficult.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Feeling anxious and emotionally excited after an accident is normal. Because of this, however, it is important for you to understand what you should do after you have been struck by another motorist.
First, you should exchange your information with the other driver and check everyone for injuries. If someone is obviously injured, you should render first aid and call 911. Wait at the accident scene for help to arrive, and tell the officer who responds to the scene what happened. You should never allow the other driver to blame you for the accident. Should I go to the hospital after a car accident? Definitely. If the officer asks you if you have been injured, do not say that you haven’t suffered an injury. You can simply say that you want to go to the hospital to get a thorough examination. A prompt medical examination may help to identify injuries about which you were initially unaware so that you can get the appropriate treatment.
Prompt Medical Attention Can Help Preserve Your Recovery Rights
In addition to helping you enjoy a better prognosis for your injuries, getting prompt medical attention from a doctor or hospital after a car accident can also help you to preserve your legal rights to the recovery of damages. If you wait for a few days or weeks to see your doctor, it may make it more difficult for you to prove that the injuries that you suffered were caused by your accident. Insurance companies commonly try to find intervening causes on which they can blame the injuries that are suffered by accident victims. To make it harder for the insurance company to do this, obtain clear medical documentation from the hospital or your doctor that demonstrates that your injuries were caused by your accident instead of by something else.
What to Do After You Have Gone to the Hospital
After you have gone to the hospital and been treated for your injuries, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Getting help from one of the knowledgeable attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave early may allow you to concentrate on getting better while your lawyer handles your accident claim.
You should be aware that insurance adjusters often try to contact injured accident victims soon after they learn about the collisions in order to try to secure recorded statements and signed authorizations to release information. Do not agree to give a recorded statement about what happened in your accident or to sign anything given to you by the insurance company until you have had a chance to meet with a lawyer. Insurance adjusters’ loyalties lie with their employers instead of you, and the information that they can gather from you will be used against you in your claim. When you have a lawyer, your attorney can handle the communications and negotiations with the insurance company for you so that you are less likely to make mistakes that could be potentially costly.
Contact the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave Today
Now that you understand the significance of going to the hospital after you have been in a motor vehicle accident, it is important for you to find out what your legal options might be if you learn that you have been injured. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave can review what happened and provide you with an honest evaluation of your claim. To learn more about your rights and to receive a free case analysis, contact the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave online or by calling 417-322-2222.
