Partner at Charbonnet Law Firm LLC
Practice Areas: Personal Injury
Following a car accident, the scene of the crash is often chaotic and overwhelming. It can be challenging for anyone to think clearly, especially since the shock of the accident and the trauma can make it hard to figure out what is happening to our bodies. Yet, what many people fail to realize is that following a motor vehicle crash, seeking medical treatments should be your top priority.
In this blog post, we will dive into the issue of car accidents and medical treatments. Specifically, detailing how getting medical help following an automobile collision can not only protect your health and safety but it can also safeguard your legal rights. In addition, we will also discuss how contacting a skilled personal injury attorney following a motor vehicle crash can help ensure you fight for the damages and justice you deserve.
Even though injuries following a motor vehicle accident can vary in severity and type depending on the crash’s circumstances. The most common injuries that often result from an automobile collision include the following:
After a motor vehicle accident, it is not surprising for victims to experience a rush of adrenaline where they do not feel symptoms of their injury or experience any pain. Quite often, these victims may even believe that their injuries are minor. However, once a few days pass and the surge of energy is gone, the victim becomes flooded with intense and excruciating pain.
In other cases, the victims may believe that there is nothing wrong with them because they do not see any apparent or physical symptoms. For instance, a victim can suffer a traumatic brain injury, but the symptoms of this severe injury may not be readily apparent for quite a few days to even weeks. However, the longer an individual waits to get treatment for this condition, the more severe and deadly this injury can become.
That is why seeking help from a medical professional promptly after your accident is critical. These doctors can quickly identify any harmful symptoms, examine you for any hidden injuries, and get you the proper medical treatment you need.
Once you get medical care, you should not stop your treatment plan. Not only can the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment instructions help protect your health from any further ongoing problems, lessen the pain you are experiencing from your injuries, and end up helping you to recover more quickly. But failing to abide by your physician’s orders can end up hurting your claim.
Another important aspect of seeking medical help is that it can help protect your legal claim. When you visit a doctor’s office, they can establish a direct link between your injuries and the motor vehicle accident by documenting everything about your injuries in their medical reports. This can be rather crucial, especially since the insurance companies or the defense will try to argue that your injuries resulted from a pre-existing condition or a subsequent event.
To show the direct connection between your injuries and the car accident, you need to make sure you keep records and documentation of all your doctor visits, medical appointments, and other information that can show the harm that resulted from the crash. These medical records can help establish:
If possible, you should also keep a journal documenting all the details about the accident, including how you are feeling on a daily basis, how the accident affected your routine, and what milestones you have missed out on because of this accident. These details can help your lawyer paint a clear picture of the ordeal you have been through and how it has affected you, your family, and your life.
If you decide not to get examined by a medical professional, not only are you risking your health. But the lack of treatment can significantly affect your claim. In general, if you do not seek medical care after your accident, the insurance companies can argue that you were not injured or that your injuries are not that serious. Ultimately, this can result in the insurance company offering you a meager settlement amount or denying your claim altogether. This is because failing to get your injuries on record allows the insurance company to question your credibility. In addition, many times, an insurance adjuster will multiply your medical expenses by a variable figure to get your compensation amount. Without these medical expenses on record, they can provide you with a settlement offer that will barely cover your current expenses, let alone any future costs.
Once your car accident is reported, the insurance company may be calling you. However, it is essential to realize that the insurance company is a business that wants to make a profit. They accomplish this goal by offering you less money than your case is worth or denying your settlement amount. That is why they will try any tactic they can to find a way to get you to admit fault for the accident. For these reasons, it is important to avoid speaking with an adjuster and make sure you take all the steps you can to prevent them from denying your claim. This includes getting the medical treatment you need and retaining an experienced personal injury lawyer who can handle these discussions and negotiations and ensure you do not say anything that can affect your claim.
Car accidents can be quite dangerous, traumatizing, and deadly. They can not only affect your quality of life, but they can also cause you to suffer debilitating injuries, affect your earning potential, and ultimately impact your future.
What is even worse is that the motor vehicle crash claims resulting from these accidents can also be incredibly complicated. Requiring the victim to show detailed and relevant evidence, have a thorough understanding of the state’s laws, and provide solid arguments that can help them prove their claim. As a result, if you have been involved in a car collision, you need a personal injury accident attorney working on your side. These lawyers can explain your legal rights, advise you on your legal options, evaluate your injuries, and go after the compensation you need.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle collision. Do not wait. Contact the Charbonnet Law Firm, LLC online, or call our office at (504) 294-5094. You have already been through enough. Let our lawyers fight for you and your rights.
With over 50 years of legal experience serving families in the New Orleans area and surrounding Louisiana communities, our firm takes pride in providing clients with personalized legal services tailored to individual needs.
