A car accident has a way of derailing your entire day. In the scramble to postpone appointments, take care of your damaged vehicle, and ensure that your family has what they need, you may postpone medical treatment. It may be especially tempting to skip the doctor if you don’t feel you were hurt very badly.

However, delaying medical treatment can have devastating impacts on your health and your car accident claim. It’s important to see a doctor as soon as you can after an accident, and here’s why:

1. You may not be able to tell right away how badly you were injured.
Some accident injuries are immediately obvious. Others may take a few hours or weeks to become apparent. Injuries to the muscles and soft tissues of the head, neck, or back are often difficult to spot immediately. Your doctor, however, can examine you carefully and order any necessary imaging to identify potential issues. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your chances of avoiding further injury.

2. You might leave the door open for insurers to deny your claim.
If you delay or avoid medical treatment after an accident, expect the insurance company to argue that you did so because you weren’t really hurt. Or that your injuries were actually the result of a different event. Either argument can cost you the compensation you need and deserve, but you can help protect your own case by getting medical attention promptly.

3. You might need follow-up care.
Some car accident injuries can be treated in one visit. Others might need multiple doctor’s visits, tests or imaging, or even surgery. The sooner you begin the process, the sooner you finish it – and, in some cases, seeing a doctor promptly might even help prevent problems that would otherwise make your recovery more complicated and painful.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. Then, speak to an experienced California accident lawyer for help protecting your legal rights and seeking the compensation you deserve. To learn more, call The Paris Firm today at 909.551.4040 or write to us via our online contact form.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.