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Originally Posted On: https://www.athenspersonalinjuryattorney.com/the-importance-of-seeking-medical-treatment-after-an-accident
When you’ve been involved in an accident, seeking medical treatment should be your top concern. In this blog post, we will explore why seeking medical treatment as soon after you’ve been injured in an accident is so important:
1.
First and foremost, we want to protect your health. Even though you may initially feel fine after an accident, certain injuries may not show immediate symptoms and may take time to appear. Some of the injuries may even worsen with time. That is why, after you have been involved in an accident, you must go to at least your local urgent care to be examined by a doctor. They can identify hidden injuries, provide appropriate treatment, and prevent long-term complications. The time to seek treatment is now! If you wait, as we will soon discuss, it could hurt your claim and hurt your ability to recover fair compensation.
2.
Practically speaking, it is good for your case. When you seek treatment immediately following an accident, it establishes a clear connection between your injuries and the accident. We do not want to give the insurance company an “out” and an excuse to not pay for your treatment. If they can easily allege that the injuries and the resulting treatment you received were caused from something other than the accident, they may refuse to pay for the treatment. Insurance companies and defense attorneys often scrutinize the gap between the accident and the medical treatment sought in an attempt to undermine the severity of your injuries. Again, we do not want to give them an opening to decline payment for your treatment.
3.
The medical records produced by the treatment serve as evidence of your damages. This medical treatment helps to establish causation by documenting your injuries, symptoms, and treatment as close to the accident as possible.
4.
Seeking treatment quickly after the accident ensures you are adhering to legal guidelines. There are deadlines known as statutes of limitations that determine how long you have to file a claim. In Georgia, for bodily injury, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of accident. If you wait longer than that to try and obtain a recovery, you will be prevented from doing so. Seeking treatment soon after the accident ensures that you will be able to get as much treatment in as possible before the statute of limitations becomes an issue in your case.
Seeking immediate medical care after an accident is very important both for your well-being and for your personal injury claim. The treatment helps to establish a clear link between your injuries and the accident, strengthens your case against any disputes, and helps you receive the correct treatment for a faster recovery. By taking action soon after your accident, you are able to protect your legal rights and maximize your chances of obtaining fair compensation. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
