While there are several things you will need to do after a car accident, one of the most important things you need to do is seek a medical evaluation. You should see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident to ensure a delay won’t adversely affect your injury claim.
Additionally, delaying medical treatment could allow some injuries, such as those listed here, to grow more severe.
Never Keep an Accident From Your Doctor
While it’s important to learn how a car accident lawyer can help after a car accident, you should also be aware that your own actions can help your attorney prepare your case. One of the most significant things you can do to help your lawyer is to keep your doctor updated on the accident.
If you don’t tell your doctor you have had an accident and the defendant in your claim subpoenas your medical records, it can look as though you didn’t really suffer any damages.
However, by having your doctor note that he was informed about your accident and examined you for injuries, your claim is more easily proven.
Soft Tissue Injuries Can Remain Hidden
An example of injuries that don’t reveal themselves right away are soft tissue injuries, which are tears or strain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. While tissue damage near the skin is more easily identified, deeper soft tissue injuries can take a while to manifest themselves.
A reason for this is the general soreness you’ll experience after an injury, which can mask the pain caused by more serious injuries. Your doctor can identify deep soft tissue wounds sooner.
Tell Your Doctor About Head or Neck Discomfort
After you have been involved in a car accident, it’s no longer wise to dismiss a simple headache or a kink in your neck. While you might have had similar experiences in the past, these conditions may be symptoms of brain or spinal cord trauma after an accident.
If you do feel a slight headache or neck discomfort after an accident, report those symptoms to your doctor immediately. If they are just simple coincidences, nothing has been lost. However, if they are symptoms of serious damage or injury, early treatment can significantly improve your chances for a full recovery.
Discuss the Possibility of Internal Bleeding
A condition that people rarely think of is internal bleeding, yet serious internal injuries can be fatal. To ensure you can be treated for internal bleeding as quickly as possible, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms.
While some symptoms are specific to the area of the body in which the internal bleeding occurs, the following symptoms are common in most incidences:
- Blood in the urine
- Breathing difficulties
- Migraines
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Dizziness
Mental Health Problems Shouldn’t Be Dismissed
You should also discuss any signs of mental illness that the accident may have caused or worsened. Many people suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after an accident, which involves heightened anxiety, flashbacks, and hallucinations.
However, your doctor will likely recommend a mental health expert who can help you get these conditions and symptoms under control.
Similarly, you should also report incidences of depression, sleep loss, or other issues that have developed or grown more severe after your accident. Talking to your doctor about these conditions will ensure you get the help you need to resolve these problems.
Getting treatment as early as possible will also ensure you can claim accurate damages in a personal injury case. Your lawyer can use your medical records to provide proof of the damages you suffered, making it more likely that the insurance company will settle.
This means your case will be settled sooner and you can focus all of your time on healing and restoring your quality of life.