The Importance of Early Treatment After a Motor Vehicle Accident
Key Takeaways
You should seek medical attention immediately after a car accident, even if you feel fine, to protect your health and support any injury claim.
Document the crash scene, gather evidence, and obtain a police report to strengthen your case for compensation.
Contact a car accident attorney promptly to help file your claim and maximize the compensation you may be entitled to.
Car accidents are one of the most common and traumatic events everyday people experience in the U.S. Even a minor accident can be disorientating, making it difficult to take the proper steps following a crash—including seeking prompt medical treatment. Yet, it is vital that you see a doctor following any motor vehicle accident, regardless of how minor it might seem. In this blog post, our Honolulu car accident lawyer explains why.
Why Seeking Medical Care ASAP After an Auto Collision Is So Important
When a car crash happens, it can be hard to think clearly. Adrenaline starts pumping, which can mask the pain you would normally feel after suffering an injury. Also, shock and trauma can affect your ability to think clearly and make competent decisions.
For these reasons, many people often mistakenly think they are unhurt, and decide not to seek treatment. This is a huge mistake, as refusing to see a doctor can not only hurt your health, but your injury claim as well.
Many doctors agree that car accident injuries respond best to treatment within the first 72 hours after the crash occurs. Otherwise, a latent injury may get worse over time, causing you to experience more dramatic symptoms and pay higher medical costs in the long run. Such injuries can even become debilitating, and lead to long term or permanent damage.
Common car accident injuries that may not reveal symptoms right away include:
Traumatic brain injuries, like concussions
Spinal trauma, such as disc herniations
Soft tissue injuries
Internal injuries
Whiplash
PTSD
Seeking early medical treatment also makes it easier to file an insurance or personal injury claim for damages. If you don’t notice an injury until days or weeks after the crash, it will be more difficult for you to prove it was sustained during the accident. If you decide to file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they will use this to discredit your claim.
What Else to Do After a Car Crash
Beyond seeking medical attention, here are other crucial steps to take after being involved in a car accident:
Document the crash scene: Photograph or video the accident scene as soon as you can. Make sure to concentrate on property damage, injuries, tire skid marks, and the surrounding area (signs indicating the flow of traffic or bad weather conditions, for instance). Write down or record how you remember the accident happening.
Get a police report: Call the police to the scene and answer all their questions about the crash, providing as much detail as possible (never accept blame or apologize, however). Ask for a copy of the report for your records. In fact, save all receipts, bills, and correspondence related to the crash and your injuries.
If your injuries are too severe to allow you to take care of the above right away, don’t worry—you can get the information you need later from the police report as well as with the help of an experienced attorney.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Time is of the essence in car accident claims. In addition to seeking out prompt medical care, you should also do your best to collect relevant evidence and file a claim for damages as soon as you possibly can.
In Hawaii, the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim is two years from either the date of the crash (or the discovery of relevant injuries). There is another law that states claims will be denied if the deadline is missed, so make sure you initiate a claim as soon as possible if you would like to pursue just compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other expenses.
Contact Our Attorney Today
At Daniel T Pagliarini AAL, we can help you put together your claim in a timely manner, as well as ensure that everything is filled out correctly and includes relevant evidence. Our experienced and skilled injury attorney can also ensure that you request receive the maximum amount in compensation you are entitled to.
Have you or a loved one been seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash in Hawaii? Our top-rated car accident firm can help. Call or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today!
